Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Dublin, OH: $2,532 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
120

Cost of Living Index in Dublin, OH
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Dublin, OH Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Dublin, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,532

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Dublin, OH

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Dublin, OH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,532 in Dublin, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Dublin, OH $2,532

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,693 in Dublin, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Dublin, OH $3,693

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,854 in Dublin, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Dublin, OH $4,854

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Dublin, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Dublin, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Dublin, OH by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.26 $20.26

0.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$74.8 $74.8

18.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.23 $12.23

5.07%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.47 $5.47

5.67%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.01 $2.01

12.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.02 $5.02

37.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$5.82 $5.82

58.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.96 $0.96

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.31 $3.31

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.98 $3.98

35.18%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.14 $3.14

44.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$11.16 $11.16

22.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$9.68 $9.68

45.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$16.21 $16.21

11.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.24 $3.24

59.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.46 $1.46

35.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.38 $4.38

-11.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.70 $3.70

30.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.69 $2.69

4.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.03 $2.03

31.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.15 $2.15

-3.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.26 $2.26

34.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.01 $10.01

38.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.63 $13.63

10.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.02 $2.02

30.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.10 $3.10

11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$64.5 $64.5

16.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.44 $2.44

29.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.38 $1.38

23.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$29.63 $29.63

-15.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.03 $1.03

24.27%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

12.21%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

5.25%

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

$192 $192

$177 $177

8.26%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$60.4 $60.4

15.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$64.5 $64.5

-3.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$40.27 $40.27

18.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$12.05 $12.05

47.97%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,582 $1,582

14.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$20.4K $20.4K

98.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$46.38 $46.38

42.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$39.97 $39.97

28.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$73.6 $73.6

40.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$79.8 $79.8

78.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,552 $1,552

63.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,302 $1,302

24.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,582 $2,582

87.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,131 $2,131

28.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,609 $2,609

59.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,098 $2,098

29.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.51

4.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Dublin, OH: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Dublin, OH

$1.3K 51.4% 19.7% $319

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Dublin, OH

$354 14% 19.4% $85

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Dublin, OH

$319 12.6% 7.2% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Dublin, OH

$302 11.9% 6.7% $22

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Dublin, OH

$108 4.3% 34.1% $56

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Dublin, OH

$82 3.2% 15.5% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Dublin, OH

$64 2.5% 22.9% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,552 in Dublin, OH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Dublin, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $354 – making Dublin, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Dublin, OH

🕒 Local time

20:31 8:31 PM

21:31 9:31 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

49,328

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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 Dublin, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,532 in Dublin, OH – Dublin, OH comes out roughly 18% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,797 in Dublin, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dublin, OH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,552 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Dublin, OH. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,532 in Dublin, OH. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Dublin, OH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Dublin, OH is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 18% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.