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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,613 in Ashland, WI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,795 in Ashland, WI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,977 in Ashland, WI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Ashland, WI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Ashland, WI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Ashland, WI by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$18.02 $18.02

15.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$65.3 $65.3

50.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.08 $10.08

18.06%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.23 $5.23

11.66%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.72 $2.72

12.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.46 $2.46

-4.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.02 $6.02

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.20 $7.20

12.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.97 $0.97

8.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.15 $4.15

-4.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.93 $3.93

42.49%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.26 $3.26

39.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$9.41 $9.41

50.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.88 $11.88

25.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$14.05 $14.05

35.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.17 $5.17

2.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.15 $1.15

48.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.93 $5.93

-28.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.25 $5.25

-16.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.97 $3.97

-35.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.64 $3.64

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.90 $1.90

42.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.42 $10.42

43.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$13.49 $13.49

9.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.77 $1.77

33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.47 $4.47

-20.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.97 $1.97

23.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.89 $4.89

-31.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$28.80 $28.80

-12.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.80 $0.80

36.25%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$35.7K $35.7K

-9.61%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.85%

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

$188 $188

$221 $221

-14.90%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$48.35 $48.35

30.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$72.4 $72.4

-8.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.04 $43.04

75.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.11 $14.11

4.89%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,454 $1,454

44.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$29.7K $29.7K

29.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$38.38 $38.38

69.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$41.20 $41.20

25.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$84.3 $84.3

14.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$129 $129

13.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,607 $1,607

45.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,335 $1,335

18.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,621 $2,621

82.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,219 $2,219

22.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,952 $2,952

36.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,182 $2,182

23.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ashland, WI: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,607 in Ashland, WI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $65.0 in Ashland, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $387 – making Ashland, WI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 18% more than Ashland, WI, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,919 in Ashland, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ashland, WI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $65.0 in Ashland, WI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,613 in Ashland, WI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ashland, WI costs $2,613 versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ashland, WI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.