Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ottawa, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Ottawa, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.3% more expensive than Ottawa, IL without rent, and 25.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 58.4% more expensive than Ottawa, IL without rent, and 37.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.75 $14.75

41.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.7 $50.7

97.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.9 $10.9

9.82%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.41 $4.41

26.08%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.96 $1.96

58.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.46 $1.46

65.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.59 $3.59

91.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$3.06 $3.06

176.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.73 $0.73

42.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.61 $2.61

59.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.8 $2.8

97.14%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.67 $2.67

74.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.36 $11.36

26.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.3 $6.3

136.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.35 $13.35

44.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.23 $2.23

131.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.62 $1.62

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.46 $3.46

27.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.1 $4.1

10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.42 $2.42

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.37 $2.37

15.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.45 $1.45

86.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.91 $8.91

70.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.04 $13.04

25.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.08 $2.08

12.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.96 $1.96

88.78%

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

$3.46 $3.46

-3.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.37 $1.37

3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.75 $29.75

-14.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.93 $0.93

16.13%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$39.9K $39.9K

-18.74%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.7K $22.7K

15.27%

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

$188 $188

$214 $214

-12.07%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$41.55 $41.55

53.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.7 $62.7

4.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.87 $42.87

78.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$27.49 $27.49

-52.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.15 $12.15

22.88%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,216 $1,216

69.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

63.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$44.14 $44.14

45.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.43 $39.43

32.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$89.7 $89.7

6.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$153 $153

-5.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,632 $1,632

45.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,329 $1,329

19.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,598 $2,598

83.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,260 $2,260

24.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,840 $2,840

26.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,800 $2,800

-11.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,444 $2,444

115.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ottawa, IL: October 29, 2025

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