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 33.3% more expensive than Columbus, IN without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.9% more expensive than Columbus, IN without rent, and 40% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$16.48 $16.48

24.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$59.5 $59.5

70.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$9.96 $9.96

20.78%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.08 $4.08

37.75%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.32 $2.32

32.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.71 $1.71

41.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$8.87 $8.87

-21.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$12.07 $12.07

-32.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.80 $0.80

35.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.44 $2.44

61.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.88 $2.88

91.67%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.33 $2.33

95.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$11.59 $11.59

25.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$17.82 $17.82

-16.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$9.56 $9.56

96.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.48 $4.48

19.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.30 $1.30

35.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.40 $4.40

-0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.31 $4.31

1.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.93 $2.93

-12.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.17 $3.17

-12.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.98 $1.98

24.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$0.43 $0.43

518.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$7.42 $7.42

98.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$18.15 $18.15

-16.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.68 $1.68

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.88 $4.88

-24.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.53 $3.53

-6.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.59 $1.59

-10.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$28.65 $28.65

-13.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.85 $0.85

28.24%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

4.74%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.51%

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

$187 $187

$212 $212

-11.70%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$45.18 $45.18

38.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$64.0 $64.0

4.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$45.87 $45.87

63.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

$34.64 $34.64

-61.98%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$11.97 $11.97

27.07%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$543 $543

275.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$4,994 $4,994

687.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$46.74 $46.74

36.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$40.64 $40.64

24.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$73.1 $73.1

30.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$105 $105

36.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,207 $1,207

95.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$994 $994

62.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,877 $1,877

151.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,763 $1,763

56.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$1,600 $1,600

137.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,614 $1,614

59.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,982 $3,982

18.98%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Columbus, IN: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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