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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,602 in Batavia, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,842 in Batavia, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,082 in Batavia, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 22% more than Batavia, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Batavia, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Batavia, OH by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$22.10 $22.10

-8.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$78.9 $78.9

12.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.02 $11.02

19.42%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.38 $5.38

7.25%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.62 $2.62

0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.01 $2.01

16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.10 $6.10

15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.71 $7.71

19.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.91 $0.91

42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.08 $3.08

31.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.31 $5.31

7.16%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.73 $3.73

30.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.91 $13.91

8.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.57 $14.57

2.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$13.00 $13.00

48.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$6.28 $6.28

-9.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.31 $1.31

47.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.98 $5.98

-31.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.37 $4.37

16.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.82 $2.82

3.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.47 $3.47

-20.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.25 $2.25

2.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.33 $2.33

30.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$9.85 $9.85

61.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$16.11 $16.11

-6.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.17 $2.17

16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.97 $2.97

17.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.29 $2.29

10.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.95 $2.95

11.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.30 $1.30

4.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$26.97 $26.97

-16.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.98 $0.98

24.49%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.9K $35.9K

0.59%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.32%

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

$188 $188

$220 $220

-14.26%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$66.3 $66.3

4.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$69.0 $69.0

-7.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$41.59 $41.59

52.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.13 $13.13

36.33%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,597 $1,597

-4.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$33.9K $33.9K

-5.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$49.14 $49.14

26.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$41.87 $41.87

34.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$80.6 $80.6

25.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$108 $108

44.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,576 $1,576

48.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,308 $1,308

29.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,492 $2,492

83.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,100 $2,100

33.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,711 $2,711

52.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,389 $2,389

14.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.08

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Batavia, OH: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,576 in Batavia, OH. 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $79.0 in Batavia, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $416 – making Batavia, OH 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 Batavia, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,602 in Batavia, OH – roughly 22% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,903 in Batavia, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,602 in Batavia, OH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,597 in Batavia, OH. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,602 in Batavia, OH. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,602 in Batavia, OH to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Batavia, OH. 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.