Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima, OH: $2,610 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
125

Cost of Living Index in Lima, OH
Learn more

Lima, OH Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Lima, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,610

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Lima, 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 Lima, OH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,610 in Lima, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Lima, OH $2,610

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,701 in Lima, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Lima, OH $3,701

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,791 in Lima, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Lima, OH $4,791

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Lima, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Lima, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Lima, OH by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$22.02 $22.02

-5.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$77.7 $77.7

14.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.17 $12.17

8.38%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.38 $5.38

5.20%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.59 $2.59

1.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.99 $1.99

14.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.98 $5.98

14.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.98 $6.98

26.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.54 $0.54

131.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.18 $3.18

16.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.08 $5.08

6.10%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.93 $2.93

61.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$8.95 $8.95

54.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.87 $14.87

-3.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.17 $16.17

13.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.39 $4.39

18.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.07 $1.07

85.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.33 $4.33

-6.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.49 $4.49

10.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.26 $2.26

18.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.22 $2.22

19.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.96 $1.96

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.98 $1.98

58.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.69 $9.69

42.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.32 $16.32

-8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.16 $2.16

17.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.96 $1.96

79.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$60.4 $60.4

21.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.99 $2.99

6.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.30 $1.30

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$26.60 $26.60

-5.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.92 $0.92

30.43%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.2K $31.2K

12.48%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.0K $24.0K

11.04%

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

$194 $194

$225 $225

-13.53%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$66.3 $66.3

4.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$67.1 $67.1

-8.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$42.42 $42.42

12.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$48.19 $48.19

-43.27%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$13.49 $13.49

32.02%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,595 $1,595

12.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.3K $34.3K

-6.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$49.53 $49.53

35.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.78 $40.78

27.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$81.0 $81.0

25.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$108 $108

33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,310 $1,310

92.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,263 $1,263

24.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,177 $2,177

117.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,809 $1,809

48.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$1,410 $1,410

197.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,429 $1,429

93.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,183 $5,183

-4.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.64

2.56%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lima, OH: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Lima, OH

$1.3K 48.4% 20% $315

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Lima, OH

$377 14.5% 15.7% $70

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Lima, OH

$339 13% 1.6% $5.6

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Lima, OH

$358 13.7% 10.1% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Lima, OH

$125 4.8% 23.5% $39

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Lima, OH

$78 3% 16.7% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Lima, OH

$69 2.7% 16.9% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,310 in Lima, OH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Lima, OH, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $78 in Lima, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $377 – making Lima, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Lima, OH

🕒 Local time

17:57 5:57 PM

18:57 6:57 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

35,868

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Lima, OH 320 km

From you

Chicago, IL
Lima, OH

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Lima, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,610 in Lima, OH – Lima, OH comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,916 in Lima, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lima, OH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,310 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $78 in Lima, OH. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,610, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Lima, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

For expats, Lima, OH is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 14% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.