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 31.8% more expensive than Dayton, OH without rent, and 37.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.8% more expensive than Dayton, OH without rent, and 50.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.74 $16.74
24.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.1 $60.1
67.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.09 $10.09
18.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.15 $4.15
33.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.41 $2.41
29.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.69 $1.69
43.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.27 $4.27
60.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.94 $5.94
42.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.75 $0.75
38.67%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.5 $2.5
66.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.64 $3.64
51.65%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.38 $3.38
37.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.58 $11.58
23.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$18.45 $18.45
-19.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.49 $15.49
24.85%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.83 $4.83
7.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.61 $1.61
6.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.84 $5.84
-24.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.17 $5.17
-12.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.95 $2.95
-14.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.08 $3.08
-11.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.17 $2.17
11.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.78 $2.78
-2.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.02 $9.02
68.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.85 $11.85
38.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 $1.72
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.78 $3.78
-2.12%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.17 $4.17
-39.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$59.4 $59.4
24.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.93 $4.93
-32.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.44 $1.44
-1.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$50.3 $50.3
-49.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.8K $29.8K
8.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.66%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$201 $201
-6.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.94 $45.94
38.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.5 $63.5
2.74%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$32.99 $32.99
132.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$45.51 $45.51
-71.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.16 $13.16
13.45%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$544 $544
279.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$5,050 $5,050
675.76%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.94 $45.94
39.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$51.4 $51.4
1.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$73.3 $73.3
29.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$108 $108
34.06%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,212 $1,212
96.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$925 $925
71.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,653 $1,653
188.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,371 $1,371
105.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,120 $3,120
14.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,427 $1,427
74.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Dayton, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,305 $3,305
59.60%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Dayton, OH: October 28, 2025

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