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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 55.1% more expensive than Lorain, OH without rent, and 18.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 35.7% more expensive than Lorain, OH without rent, and 33.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.31 $17.31
20.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$68.2 $68.2
47.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.06 $10.06
18.99%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.44 $3.44
61.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.44 $2.44
27.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.53 $1.53
58.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.89 $4.89
40.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.78 $4.78
76.78%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.67 $0.67
55.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.58 $2.58
60.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.75 $5.75
-4.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.27 $2.27
104.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.31 $7.31
96.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.3 $10.3
44.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.22 $10.22
89.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.47 $4.47
15.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.17 $1.17
46.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.77 $5.77
-23.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.3 $5.3
-14.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.55 $2.55
7.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.08 $2.08
16.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.04 $2.04
32.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.91 $9.91
53.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.02 $15.02
9.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.11 $2.11
11.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.59 $2.59
42.86%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.48 $2.48
34.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.37 $1.37
3.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$47.86 $47.86
-46.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.92 $0.92
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.1K $35.1K
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.66%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$248 $248
-23.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.2 $56.2
13.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$54.1 $54.1
20.56%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.67 $43.67
75.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.89 $10.89
37.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,275 $1,275
61.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17K $17K
130.87%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.35 $39.35
63.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.76 $30.76
70.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$75.5 $75.5
26.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$100 $100
44.23%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,600 $1,600
48.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,363 $1,363
16.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,616 $2,616
82.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,182 $2,182
28.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,577 $2,577
39.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,303 $2,303
8.11%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lorain, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.42
2.80%

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 Lorain, OH: October 29, 2025

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