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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.2% more expensive than Ashland, WI without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.5% more expensive than Ashland, WI without rent, and 27.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.14 $18.14

14.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.5 $66.5

50.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.02 $10.02

19.46%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5 $5

11.20%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.69 $2.69

15.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.44 $2.44

-0.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.11 $6.11

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.07 $7.07

19.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.28 $4.28

-3.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.99 $3.99

38.35%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.2 $3.2

45.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.56 $9.56

49.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.64 $11.64

27.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.2 $14.2

36.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.15 $5.15

0.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.15 $1.15

48.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.72 $5.72

-22.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.24 $5.24

-13.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.9 $3.9

-35.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.67 $3.67

-25.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.88 $1.88

43.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.51 $10.51

44.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.04 $14.04

16.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.48 $4.48

-17.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.13 $5.13

-34.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.92 $28.92

-12.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.8K $35.8K

-9.50%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.02%

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

$188 $188

$226 $226

-16.62%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.77 $47.77

33.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.1 $72.1

-9.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.07 $43.07

78.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.17 $14.17

5.36%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,447 $1,447

42.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$29.8K $29.8K

31.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$39.76 $39.76

61.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.33 $42.33

23.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85.3 $85.3

11.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$127 $127

13.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,629 $1,629

45.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,370 $1,370

15.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,668 $2,668

78.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,192 $2,192

28.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,625 $2,625

36.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,609 $2,609

-4.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.43

2.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ashland, WI: October 29, 2025

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