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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 29% more expensive than Westerville, OH without rent, and 16.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 48.2% more expensive than Westerville, OH without rent, and 30.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.8 $16.8
23.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.1 $60.1
66.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.91 $9.91
20.79%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.22 $4.22
31.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.3 $2.3
35.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.04 $2.04
18.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.73 $5.73
19.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.12 $7.12
18.68%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.86 $0.86
20.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.4 $2.4
72.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.71 $3.71
48.79%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.53 $3.53
31.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.26 $11.26
27.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.5 $15.5
-4.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.24 $15.24
26.90%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.98 $4.98
3.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.31 $1.31
30.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.51 $5.51
-19.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.21 $5.21
-13.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.87 $2.87
-11.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.94 $2.94
-6.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.19 $2.19
10.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.17 $2.17
24.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.13 $9.13
66.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.79 $13.79
19.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.56 $2.56
44.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.96 $2.96
12.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.23 $1.23
15.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$26.68 $26.68
-4.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.4K $29.4K
10.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$274 $274
-31.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.65 $44.65
42.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.7 $67.7
-3.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.25 $43.25
77.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.52 $12.52
19.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$560 $560
268.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$5,029 $5,029
679.06%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.63 $45.63
40.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.75 $39.75
31.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$74.3 $74.3
28.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$103 $103
40.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,590 $1,590
49.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,345 $1,345
17.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,619 $2,619
81.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,179 $2,179
29.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,988 $2,988
20.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,472 $2,472
0.72%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Westerville, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,342 $5,342
-1.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Westerville, OH: October 27, 2025

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