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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,571 in Bedford, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,777 in Bedford, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,092 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,983 in Bedford, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Bedford, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Bedford, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 126%, Bedford, OH by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$19.16 $19.16

3.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$75.3 $75.3

17.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$10.96 $10.96

20.71%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.17 $5.17

13.35%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.58 $2.58

1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.03 $2.03

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.82 $5.82

20.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$6.96 $6.96

32.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.04 $1.04

28.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.59 $3.59

16.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.18 $4.18

31.58%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.19 $4.19

12.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$12.33 $12.33

19.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.38 $11.38

27.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$15.37 $15.37

28.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.80 $4.80

17.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.57 $1.57

25.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.34 $4.34

-6.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.77 $4.77

6.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.79 $2.79

5.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.78 $2.78

5.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.12 $2.12

7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.20 $2.20

41.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$9.85 $9.85

64.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$13.82 $13.82

9.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.76 $1.76

51.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.38 $3.38

2.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.97 $1.97

28.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.53 $3.53

-10.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.66 $1.66

-17.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$29.36 $29.36

-22.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.91 $0.91

31.87%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

23.31%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.74%

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

$190 $190

$186 $186

2.13%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$52.0 $52.0

31.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$68.4 $68.4

-10.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$43.23 $43.23

47.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$13.31 $13.31

37.34%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,300 $1,300

17.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

36.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$51.7 $51.7

23.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$40.79 $40.79

33.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$86.2 $86.2

16.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$110 $110

39.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,620 $1,620

49.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,363 $1,363

24.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,580 $2,580

77.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,248 $2,248

23.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,719 $2,719

53.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,452 $2,452

11.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.51

-2.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Bedford, OH: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,620 in Bedford, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Bedford, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $386 – making Bedford, 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 Bedford, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Bedford, OH, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,659 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,856 in Bedford, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bedford, OH, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Bedford, OH. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $3,106 in Chicago, IL and $2,571 in Bedford, OH. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bedford, OH costs $2,571 versus $3,106 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 Bedford, 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.