Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Columbus, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Columbus, IN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.5% more expensive than Columbus, IN without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.2% more expensive than Columbus, IN without rent, and 42.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.43 $16.43

26.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$61 $61

64.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.06 $10.06

18.99%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.06 $4.06

36.95%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.36 $2.36

31.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.72 $1.72

40.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.79 $8.79

-21.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$12.16 $12.16

-30.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.75 $0.75

38.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.39 $2.39

73.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.85 $2.85

93.68%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.35 $2.35

97.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.41 $11.41

25.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$17.68 $17.68

-15.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$9.48 $9.48

104.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.27 $4.27

21.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.24 $1.24

37.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.27 $4.27

3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.85 $2.85

-11.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.04 $3.04

-9.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.94 $1.94

25.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$0.43 $0.43

527.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.53 $7.53

101.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.4 $13.4

22.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.7 $1.7

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.86 $4.86

-23.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.47 $3.47

-3.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.57 $1.57

-9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.66 $29.66

-14.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.4K $30.4K

6.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.72%

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

$188 $188

$207 $207

-9.09%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.81 $44.81

42.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.5 $62.5

4.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$45.39 $45.39

69.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$34.78 $34.78

-62.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.23 $12.23

22.08%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$552 $552

273.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$4,913 $4,913

697.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.12 $46.12

39.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.35 $40.35

29.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74 $74

28.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$106 $106

36.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,199 $1,199

98.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,019 $1,019

55.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,870 $1,870

154.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,783 $1,783

57.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,628 $1,628

120.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,638 $1,638

52.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,962 $3,962

33.13%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Columbus, IN: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States