Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Van Wert, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Van Wert, OH

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32% more expensive than Van Wert, OH without rent, and 16.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.9% more expensive than Van Wert, OH without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.62 $19.62
6.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.2 $81.2
23.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.95 $10.95
9.32%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.96 $4.96
12.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.61 $2.61
19.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.21 $2.21
9.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.72 $5.72
19.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.15 $7.15
18.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.9 $0.9
15.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.11 $3.11
33.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.27 $4.27
29.27%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.22 $3.22
44.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.02 $10.02
43.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.15 $14.15
5.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.28 $16.28
18.80%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.97 $5.97
-13.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.31 $1.31
30.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.56 $5.56
-20.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.1 $5.1
-11.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.67 $3.67
-31.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.07 $3.07
-10.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.18 $2.18
11.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.09 $2.09
29.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.55 $8.55
77.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.96 $14.96
9.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.9 $1.9
23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.58 $2.58
43.41%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.02 $3.02
10.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.27 $1.27
11.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.28 $27.28
-6.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.02%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$178 $178
5.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$61.3 $61.3
3.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.5 $67.5
-3.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.53 $43.53
76.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.14 $12.14
22.98%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,249 $1,249
65.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.1K $15.1K
160.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.4 $55.4
16.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.54 $38.54
35.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$81.8 $81.8
16.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$104 $104
38.76%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,578 $1,578
50.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,333 $1,333
18.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,578 $2,578
84.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,264 $2,264
24.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,428 $2,428
47.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,513 $2,513
-0.92%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Van Wert, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,115 $4,115
28.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 Van Wert, OH: October 29, 2025

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