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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.7% more expensive than Columbus, OH without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.1% more expensive than Columbus, OH without rent, and 20.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.64 $19.64

6.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.3 $80.3

25.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.21 $11.21

6.78%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.81 $4.81

15.59%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.58 $2.58

20.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.16 $2.16

12.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.86 $5.86

17.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.85 $6.85

23.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.89 $0.89

16.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.05 $3.05

36.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.18 $4.18

32.06%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.28 $3.28

41.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.21 $13.21

8.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.8 $13.8

7.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.87 $15.87

21.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.22 $6.22

-16.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.35 $1.35

26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.72 $5.72

-22.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.24 $5.24

-13.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.74 $3.74

-32.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.08 $3.08

-11.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.25 $2.25

8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.11 $2.11

27.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.46 $9.46

60.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.32 $18.32

-10.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.91 $1.91

23.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.55 $2.55

45.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$63.1 $63.1

17.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.03 $3.03

10.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.24 $1.24

14.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.02 $27.02

-5.92%

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

$30K $30K

8.12%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

1.96%

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

$188 $188

$270 $270

-30.29%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$60.1 $60.1

6.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.7 $68.7

-5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$46.33 $46.33

65.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$39.22 $39.22

-66.78%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.9 $11.9

25.46%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,237 $1,237

66.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$15.1K $15.1K

158.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$54.1 $54.1

18.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$38.74 $38.74

35.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$82.1 $82.1

16.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$103 $103

40.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,544 $1,544

53.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,196 $1,196

32.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,917 $2,917

63.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,106 $2,106

33.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,030 $3,030

18.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,544 $2,544

-2.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,998 $3,998

31.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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, OH: October 27, 2025

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