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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.4% more expensive than Dayton, OH without rent, and 38% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.9% more expensive than Dayton, OH without rent, and 48.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$16.81 $16.81
19.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$60.3 $60.3
68.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.16 $10.16
18.31%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.14 $4.14
35.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.33 $2.33
29.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.13 $4.13
69.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.88 $5.88
43.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.79 $0.79
37.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.38 $2.38
73.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$3.63 $3.63
53.44%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.41 $3.41
32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$11.43 $11.43
26.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$18.69 $18.69
-19.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$15.31 $15.31
23.97%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.87 $4.87
6.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.62 $1.62
9.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.61 $5.61
-22.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$5.42 $5.42
-16.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.89 $2.89
-11.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.06 $3.06
-11.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.18 $2.18
14.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.77 $2.77
-5.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$9.35 $9.35
61.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$12.09 $12.09
23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.71 $1.71
44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$3.70 $3.70
-1.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$4.17 $4.17
-38.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$60.4 $60.4
23.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$5.03 $5.03
-34.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.43 $1.43
-4.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$50.8 $50.8
-50.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.80 $0.80
32.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$29.5K $29.5K
6.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.64%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$204 $204
-8.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$44.94 $44.94
40.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$63.1 $63.1
4.26%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$33.98 $33.98
121.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$44.22 $44.22
-70.71%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$13.17 $13.17
14.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$554 $554
273.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$4,911 $4,911
689.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$46.62 $46.62
37.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$51.2 $51.2
-0.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$73.9 $73.9
31.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$106 $106
35.20%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,187 $1,187
96.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$922 $922
75.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,674 $1,674
184.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,385 $1,385
99.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$1,440 $1,440
81.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,372 $3,372
48.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Dayton, OH: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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