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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,338 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,476 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,613 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 36% more than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Cincinnati, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Cincinnati, OH by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$15.15 $15.15

33.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$49.00 $49.00

81.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$9.82 $9.82

34.01%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$4.99 $4.99

15.63%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.30 $2.30

14.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.86 $1.86

25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.41 $5.41

30.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.72 $7.72

18.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.94 $0.94

38.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.27 $3.27

23.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.02 $4.02

41.54%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.18 $4.18

16.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.95 $12.95

16.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$11.22 $11.22

32.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.83 $15.83

21.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.59 $5.59

1.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.65 $1.65

16.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.25 $4.25

-3.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.71 $4.71

8.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.60 $2.60

12.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.19 $3.19

-13.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.04 $2.04

12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.92 $1.92

58.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.19 $10.19

56.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.24 $15.24

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.13 $2.13

18.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.02 $3.02

15.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.69 $2.69

-5.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$106 $106

-29.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.67 $3.67

-10.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.27 $1.27

7.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$24.50 $24.50

-7.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.02 $1.02

19.61%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.0K $36.0K

0.21%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.24%

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

$188 $188

$152 $152

24.28%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$77.9 $77.9

-11.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$69.8 $69.8

-8.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$34.20 $34.20

85.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$13.62 $13.62

99.05%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$14.35 $14.35

24.74%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,466 $1,466

4.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$19.5K $19.5K

63.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$45.64 $45.64

36.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$45.58 $45.58

23.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$82.3 $82.3

22.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$110 $110

41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,629 $1,629

43.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,053 $1,053

61.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$3,164 $3,164

44.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,827 $1,827

53.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,401 $3,401

21.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,140 $2,140

28.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$4,175 $4,175

17.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.21

2.74%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,629 in Cincinnati, 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 17% 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $49.00 in Cincinnati, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $388 – making Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,338 in Cincinnati, OH – roughly 36% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,507 in Cincinnati, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $49.00 in Cincinnati, OH. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,338 in Cincinnati, 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 $2,338 in Cincinnati, OH to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Cincinnati, 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.