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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.8% more expensive than Mason, OH without rent, and 17% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23% more expensive than Mason, OH without rent, and 28.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.9 $14.9
39.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$68.8 $68.8
45.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$6.09 $6.09
96.55%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.85 $4.85
14.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.32 $1.32
135.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.76 $1.76
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.67 $4.67
46.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.03 $6.03
40.13%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.77 $0.77
35.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.69 $2.69
54.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.71 $4.71
17.20%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.22 $3.22
44.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$5.6 $5.6
155.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.25 $11.25
32.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.4 $16.4
17.93%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.16 $2.16
139.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.29 $1.29
32.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.23 $2.23
97.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.5 $1.5
200.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.48 $1.48
70.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.2 $3.2
-14.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.83 $1.83
47.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8 $8
89.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.13 $12.13
35.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.68 $2.68
-12.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.28 $3.28
12.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.59 $2.59
-2.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.07 $5.07
-34.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.69 $1.69
-15.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.71 $28.71
-11.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.4K $23.4K
38.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$178 $178
5.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$71.4 $71.4
-10.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$60.8 $60.8
7.18%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$99.3 $99.3
-22.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.27 $15.27
-2.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,160 $1,160
77.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
58.96%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.9 $55.9
15.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.6 $34.6
51.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.1 $98.1
-2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$125 $125
15.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,576 $1,576
50.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,447 $1,447
9.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,027 $3,027
57.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,229 $2,229
26.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,970 $2,970
20.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,439 $2,439
2.12%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Mason, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,319 $8,319
-36.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.67
-1.05%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Mason, OH: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.