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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Cincinnati, OH is 21.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Cincinnati, OH is 24.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.15 $15.15
$20.82 $20.82
-27.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 $58.8
$100 $100
-41.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 $8.19
$11.97 $11.97
-31.58%
Cappuccino
$4.43 $4.43
$5.56 $5.56
-20.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.11 $3.11
-27.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.42 $2.42
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 $4.95
$6.86 $6.86
-27.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 $6.82
$8.45 $8.45
-19.29%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.04 $1.04
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 $3.35
$4.15 $4.15
-19.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.52 $5.52
-28.99%
Eggs
$3.16 $3.16
$4.65 $4.65
-32.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.52 $10.52
$14.33 $14.33
-26.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.27 $9.27
$14.88 $14.88
-37.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$19.34 $19.34
-20.99%
Apples (1kg)
$4.86 $4.86
$5.17 $5.17
-6.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.71 $1.71
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.41 $4.41
-7.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$4.51 $4.51
12.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.53 $2.53
-18.58%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.74 $2.74
10.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.43 $2.43
-27.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 $1.41
$2.7 $2.7
-47.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.94 $8.94
$15.19 $15.19
-41.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.38 $13.38
$16.42 $16.42
-18.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.35 $2.35
-11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$3.7 $3.7
-51.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.1 $80.1
$74.1 $74.1
8.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.8 $3.8
$3.34 $3.34
13.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.42 $1.42
-11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.45 $25.45
$25.42 $25.42
0.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.01%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 $120
$188 $188
-36.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.2 $57.2
$63.7 $63.7
-10.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$65.2 $65.2
-11.93%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.31 $31.31
$76.7 $76.7
-59.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.97 $8.97
$13.03 $13.03
-31.16%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65 $13.65
$14.93 $14.93
-8.57%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,576 $1,576
$2,063 $2,063
-23.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K $17.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-56.31%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.7 $41.7
$64.3 $64.3
-35.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.75 $40.75
$52.4 $52.4
-22.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 $88.5
$95.2 $95.2
-7.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,499 $1,499
$2,378 $2,378
-36.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,024 $1,024
$1,584 $1,584
-35.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,884 $2,884
$4,763 $4,763
-39.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 $1,992
$2,815 $2,815
-29.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,088 $2,088
$3,588 $3,588
-41.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,842 $1,842
$2,490 $2,490
-26.03%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cincinnati, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,985 $3,985
$5,275 $5,275
-24.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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