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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,862 in Toledo, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,923 in Toledo, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,983 in Toledo, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 65% more than Toledo, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Toledo, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Toledo, OH by 39%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$20.05 $20.05

0.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$65.2 $65.2

52.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$10.13 $10.13

20.73%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.50 $4.50

24.44%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.30 $2.30

35.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.33 $1.33

82.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.07 $5.07

36.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.07 $5.07

61.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.81 $0.81

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.88 $2.88

37.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.04 $4.04

38.12%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$2.56 $2.56

74.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.55 $12.55

15.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.41 $11.41

32.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.54 $15.54

24.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.78 $3.78

42.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.84 $1.84

-4.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.43 $3.43

25.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.68 $3.68

19.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.23 $2.23

13.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.05 $2.05

31.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.15 $2.15

20.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.04 $10.04

47.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$13.32 $13.32

13.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.05 $3.05

18.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.28 $1.28

98.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$56.8 $56.8

34.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.45 $2.45

34.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.47 $2.47

-44.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$40.63 $40.63

-37.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$28.8K $28.8K

9.89%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.6K $25.6K

3.78%

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

$186 $186

$199 $199

-6.45%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$48.86 $48.86

28.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$73.6 $73.6

-10.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$31.80 $31.80

144.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$19.66 $19.66

-33.06%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$11.31 $11.31

30.33%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,467 $1,467

38.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$14.1K $14.1K

183.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$43.19 $43.19

47.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.25 $39.25

30.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$70.7 $70.7

34.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$66.4 $66.4

116.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$834 $834

176.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$652 $652

141.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,472 $1,472

218.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,334 $1,334

105.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,552 $1,552

161.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,528 $1,528

76.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,240 $3,240

54.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Toledo, OH: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $834 in Toledo, 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 55% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $65.0 in Toledo, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $356 – making Toledo, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Toledo, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $1,862 in Toledo, OH – roughly 65% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,794 in Toledo, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toledo, OH, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $65.0 in Toledo, OH. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Toledo, OH, where all-in costs run around $1,862, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Toledo, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,862 in Toledo, OH to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Toledo, OH. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.