Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bowling Green, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bowling Green, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,324 in Bowling Green, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,391 in Bowling Green, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,458 in Bowling Green, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 34% more than Bowling Green, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Bowling Green, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Bowling Green, OH by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$12.22 $12.22

66.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$44.17 $44.17

122.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$10.17 $10.17

18.68%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.14 $4.14

38.41%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.28 $2.28

30.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.19 $2.19

12.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$4.05 $4.05

72.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$4.02 $4.02

104.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.55 $0.55

90.91%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$2.14 $2.14

90.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.04 $2.04

169.61%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.04 $4.04

14.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.07 $9.07

58.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$6.01 $6.01

152.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$19.91 $19.91

-3.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.38 $4.38

17.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.11 $1.11

58.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.29 $4.29

1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.61 $5.61

-22.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.71 $3.71

-34.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.33 $4.33

-35.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.98 $1.98

27.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.47 $1.47

80.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.45 $8.45

76.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.91 $14.91

0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.76 $1.76

39.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.67 $3.67

-3.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.98 $4.98

-33.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.63 $1.63

-15.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$49.82 $49.82

-49.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

7.57%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$30.7K $30.7K

-12.57%

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

$187 $187

$129 $129

45.04%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$56.6 $56.6

12.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$40.99 $40.99

59.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$43.30 $43.30

74.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$10.07 $10.07

46.97%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$939 $939

115.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

63.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$51.3 $51.3

24.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$47.97 $47.97

7.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$96.4 $96.4

-0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

42.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,632 $1,632

42.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,369 $1,369

17.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,682 $2,682

75.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,184 $2,184

24.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$4,455 $4,455

14.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.61

-0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bowling Green, OH: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,632 in Bowling Green, OH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $44.00 in Bowling Green, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $333 – making Bowling Green, 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 Bowling Green, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,324 in Bowling Green, OH – roughly 34% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,486 in Bowling Green, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bowling Green, 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 $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $2,324 in Bowling Green, OH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,025 per month in Chicago, IL and $939 in Bowling Green, OH. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Bowling Green, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,324, than in Chicago, IL at $3,111. In Bowling Green, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,324 in Bowling Green, OH to $3,111 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 Bowling Green, 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.