Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Toledo, OH: $1,899 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
92

Cost of Living Index in Toledo, OH
Learn more

Toledo, OH Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Toledo, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$1,899

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Toledo, OH

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Toledo, OH actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,899 in Toledo, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Toledo, OH $1,899

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,892 in Toledo, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Toledo, OH $2,892

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,885 in Toledo, OH, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Toledo, OH $3,885

Chicago, IL costs about 60% more than Toledo, OH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Toledo, OH sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Toledo, OH by 40%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.64 $19.64

5.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$66.3 $66.3

34.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.87 $9.87

33.64%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.29 $5.29

6.99%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.13 $2.13

23.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.58 $1.58

44.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.99 $4.99

37.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.07 $5.07

74.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.94 $0.94

32.98%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.33 $3.33

11.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.15 $4.15

29.88%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.32 $3.32

42.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.21 $11.21

23.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.03 $10.03

43.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.53 $16.53

11.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.43 $3.43

52.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.45 $1.45

36.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.45 $4.45

-8.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.83 $3.83

29.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.58 $2.58

3.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.96 $1.96

35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.60 $2.60

-13.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.21 $2.21

41.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.89 $9.89

39.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.44 $13.44

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.95 $1.95

30.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.04 $3.04

15.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.54 $1.54

57.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$45.57 $45.57

61.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.44 $2.44

30.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.45 $2.45

-43.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$39.64 $39.64

-36.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.02 $1.02

17.65%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$31.1K $31.1K

12.74%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.02%

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

$194 $194

$181 $181

7.42%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$61.7 $61.7

12.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$64.8 $64.8

-4.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$24.19 $24.19

98.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$19.71 $19.71

38.71%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.09 $12.09

47.31%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,688 $1,688

6.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$14.2K $14.2K

125.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$45.52 $45.52

47.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$39.79 $39.79

31.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$71.1 $71.1

42.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$78.5 $78.5

83.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$955 $955

164.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$710 $710

122.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,193 $1,193

297.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,267 $1,267

112.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$1,768 $1,768

137.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,303 $1,303

112.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,434 $3,434

43.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.51

4.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Toledo, OH: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Toledo, OH

$710 37.4% 55% $868

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Toledo, OH

$360 19% 19.5% $87

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Toledo, OH

$300 15.8% 13% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Toledo, OH

$308 16.2% 5.5% $18

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Toledo, OH

$106 5.6% 35.6% $58

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Toledo, OH

$66 3.5% 28.9% $27

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Toledo, OH

$48 2.6% 42.1% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $955 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 44% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $66 in Toledo, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $360 – making Toledo, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Toledo, OH

🕒 Local time

13:00 1:00 PM

14:00 2:00 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

268,508

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Toledo, OH 340 km

From you

Chicago, IL
Toledo, OH

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $1,899 in Toledo, OH – roughly 60% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,848 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $955 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 24% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL and $66 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 $1,899, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Toledo, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Toledo, OH – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.