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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 35.5% more expensive than Sandusky, OH without rent, and 5.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 37.6% more expensive than Sandusky, OH without rent, and 16.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.59 $17.59
18.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$50.6 $50.6
98.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.89 $9.89
21.03%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.94 $4.94
12.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.52 $2.52
23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.86 $1.86
30.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.05 $5.05
35.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.93 $5.93
42.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.16 $3.16
31.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.66 $5.66
-2.47%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.24 $3.24
43.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.13 $12.13
18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.05 $12.05
23.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.39 $20.39
-5.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.7 $4.7
10.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.18 $1.18
44.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.95 $5.95
-25.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.23 $6.23
-27.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.43 $2.43
12.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.65 $2.65
-8.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.12 $2.12
27.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.09 $10.09
50.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.27 $15.27
7.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.03 $2.03
15.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.49 $2.49
48.59%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.56 $2.56
30.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.24 $1.24
14.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$47.77 $47.77
-46.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.95 $0.95
13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.2K $35.2K
-7.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.47%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$245 $245
-23.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.6 $56.6
12.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$53.5 $53.5
21.87%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.38 $43.38
76.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.11 $11.11
34.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,297 $1,297
59.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$17K $17K
130.32%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.4 $55.4
16.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.44 $30.44
72.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.9 $95.9
-0.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$107 $107
35.12%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$994 $994
139.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,616 $1,616
-1.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,026 $2,026
135.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,644 $2,644
6.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,669 $1,669
114.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,707 $1,707
45.84%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Sandusky, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,008 $2,008
162.75%
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 Sandusky, OH: October 29, 2025

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