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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30.9% more expensive than Lima, OH without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 31.9% more expensive than Lima, OH without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.75 $19.75
5.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.1 $79.1
26.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.91 $10.91
9.72%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.02 $5.02
10.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.51 $2.51
23.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.17 $2.17
11.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.83 $5.83
17.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.06 $7.06
19.69%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.86 $0.86
20.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.04 $3.04
36.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.08 $4.08
35.29%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.15 $3.15
47.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.03 $13.03
9.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.74 $13.74
8.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.3 $16.3
18.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.91 $5.91
-12.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.35 $1.35
26.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.73 $5.73
-23.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.96 $4.96
-9.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.55 $3.55
-28.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.11 $3.11
-11.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.17 $2.17
11.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.16 $2.16
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.38 $9.38
61.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.73 $17.73
-7.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.92 $1.92
22.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.5 $2.5
48.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.06 $2.06
22.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$43.18 $43.18
71.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.93 $2.93
13.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.52 $1.52
-6.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.12 $27.12
-6.27%
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
$30K $30K
7.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.01%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$275 $275
-31.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$60.2 $60.2
5.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.5 $68.5
-4.76%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$37.3 $37.3
105.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$35.61 $35.61
-63.41%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.82 $11.82
26.31%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,238 $1,238
66.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.1K $15.1K
159.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54.3 $54.3
18.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.61 $38.61
35.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$81.8 $81.8
16.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$104 $104
39.06%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$886 $886
168.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,121 $1,121
41.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,665 $2,665
78.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,182 $2,182
29.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,457 $1,457
146.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,409 $1,409
76.74%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lima, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,763 $4,763
10.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 Lima, OH: October 29, 2025

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