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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $1,570 in Athens, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $2,979 in Athens, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,388 in Athens, OH.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 96% more expensive than Athens, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Athens, OH 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.28 $15.28

36.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$60.1 $60.1

63.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.01 $8.01

48.06%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.23 $4.23

32.39%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.24 $2.24

37.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.39 $1.39

77.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.07 $5.07

40.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.89 $6.89

17.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.70 $0.70

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.08 $2.08

97.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.08 $3.08

82.14%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.28 $3.28

37.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.33 $10.33

38.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$8.90 $8.90

67.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.24 $15.24

25.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.75 $3.75

37.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.90 $0.90

96.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.84 $2.84

54.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.09 $3.09

47.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.69 $1.69

50.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.14 $2.14

28.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.65 $1.65

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.46 $1.46

79.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.03 $9.03

65.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.25 $13.25

11.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.01 $2.01

22.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.85 $1.85

101.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.03 $1.03

140.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.83 $3.83

-16.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.23 $1.23

15.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$25.18 $25.18

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.82 $0.82

29.27%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.6K $35.6K

-10.22%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.40%

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

$185 $185

$120 $120

54.16%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$30.53 $30.53

102.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$47.45 $47.45

41.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.57 $43.57

72.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$9.54 $9.54

54.19%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,574 $1,574

28.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$17.6K $17.6K

123.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$40.28 $40.28

60.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.26 $40.26

30.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$65.3 $65.3

49.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$103 $103

43.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,713 $1,713

34.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$655 $655

142.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,619 $2,619

75.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,198 $2,198

26.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,698 $1,698

131.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,638 $1,638

59.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,478 $3,478

49.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Athens, OH: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,713 in Athens, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $60.0 in Athens, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $299 per month, with Athens, OH 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 Athens, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 50% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,713 in Athens, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $1,570 in Athens, OH – a 96% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Athens, OH 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 Athens, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.