Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ashland, OR Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ashland, OR

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,469 in Ashland, OR.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,613 in Ashland, OR.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,757 in Ashland, OR.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than in Ashland, OR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Ashland, OR 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$15.30 $15.30

36.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$69.3 $69.3

42.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.07 $10.07

18.17%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.95 $4.95

17.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.06 $2.06

49.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.99 $1.99

18.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.16 $6.16

11.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.80 $7.80

3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.89 $0.89

17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.92 $3.92

1.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.87 $3.87

44.70%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$1.80 $1.80

152.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.35 $12.35

14.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.15 $14.15

5.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$14.05 $14.05

35.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.23 $4.23

25.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.52 $1.52

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.27 $3.27

29.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.63 $3.63

20.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.14 $2.14

19.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.63 $1.63

71.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.65 $1.65

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.93 $9.93

50.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$8.97 $8.97

64.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.75 $1.75

35.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.38 $2.38

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.03 $2.03

20.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.91 $3.91

-14.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.23 $1.23

11.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$30.19 $30.19

-16.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.3K $32.3K

$34.1K $34.1K

-5.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$122 $122

53.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$52.5 $52.5

20.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$57.7 $57.7

14.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.08 $43.08

75.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.21 $14.21

4.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,097 $2,097

$1,494 $1,494

40.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$12.5K $12.5K

208.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$58.0 $58.0

11.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.99 $40.99

25.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$108 $108

-10.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$108 $108

35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,619 $1,619

44.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,369 $1,369

15.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,596 $2,596

83.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,200 $2,200

23.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,758 $2,758

45.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,371 $2,371

13.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ashland, OR: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,619 in Ashland, OR. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $69.0 in Ashland, OR for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $351 per month, with Ashland, OR cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Ashland, OR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ashland, OR is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,626 in Chicago, IL and $3,703 in Ashland, OR to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,619 in Ashland, OR. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,494 in Ashland, OR. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ashland, OR – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Ashland, OR is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Ashland, OR is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Ashland, OR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.