Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Athens, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Athens, OH

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 59.6% more expensive than Athens, OH without rent, and 88.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 86.9% more expensive than Athens, OH without rent, and 44.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.92 $14.92
39.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$59.1 $59.1
69.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.24 $8.24
45.27%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.39 $4.39
26.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.12 $2.12
46.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.46 $1.46
65.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.12 $5.12
33.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.89 $6.89
22.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.69 $0.69
50.72%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.08 $2.08
99.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.91 $2.91
89.69%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.21 $3.21
44.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.39 $10.39
37.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.81 $8.81
68.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.19 $15.19
27.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.59 $3.59
44.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.96 $0.96
78.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.79 $2.79
58.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.03 $3.03
48.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.6 $1.6
58.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.12 $2.12
29.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.7 $1.7
42.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.45 $1.45
86.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.13 $9.13
66.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.61 $13.61
20.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.02 $2.02
16.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.83 $1.83
102.19%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.02 $1.02
148.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.7 $3.7
-9.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.22 $1.22
16.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$25.11 $25.11
1.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.5K $35.5K
-8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.7K $24.7K
6.12%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$118 $118
59.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$29.67 $29.67
114.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$47.35 $47.35
37.70%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.49 $43.49
76.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.73 $9.73
53.44%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,554 $1,554
32.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17.3K $17.3K
126.06%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.92 $40.92
57.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.44 $40.44
29.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$64.2 $64.2
48.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$103 $103
40.54%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,706 $1,706
39.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$664 $664
138.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,591 $2,591
83.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,228 $2,228
26.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,666 $1,666
115.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,642 $1,642
51.66%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Athens, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,398 $3,398
55.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Athens, OH: October 29, 2025

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