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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,174 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $1,893 in Normal, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,327 in Normal, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,414 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,761 in Normal, IL, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 15% more than Normal, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Normal, IL sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 62%, Normal, IL by 41%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.08 $15.08

$9.96 $9.96

51.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 $60.1

$50.9 $50.9

18.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 $7.85

$10.19 $10.19

-22.96%

Cappuccino

$4.26 $4.26

$5.03 $5.03

-15.31%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$3.14 $3.14

-29.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.16 $2.16

0.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.90 $4.90

-0.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.88 $6.88

0.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.79 $0.79

-1.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.54 $2.54

27.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.33 $3.33

14.71%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$3.93 $3.93

-16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 $10.31

$8.95 $8.95

15.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.66 $12.66

-27.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.45 $15.45

$15.54 $15.54

-0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$5.55 $5.55

-16.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.17 $1.17

17.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.69 $4.69

-13.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.88 $4.88

1.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.13 $2.13

-2.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.21 $2.21

36.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.92 $1.92

-8.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.70 $2.70

-45.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$10.33 $10.33

-14.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.13 $15.13

$11.42 $11.42

32.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.86 $1.86

7.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.97 $2.97

-38.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.96 $1.96

1.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.2 $79.2

$93.9 $93.9

-15.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.78 $2.78

32.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.58 $1.58

-22.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.88 $24.88

$21.35 $21.35

16.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.79 $0.79

11.39%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$29.9K $29.9K

18.46%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

-4.05%

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

$120 $120

$181 $181

-33.67%

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

$56.6 $56.6

$39.73 $39.73

42.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.2 $57.2

$63.0 $63.0

-9.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 $31.19

$42.24 $42.24

-26.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 $8.69

Cinema Ticket

$13.53 $13.53

$14.50 $14.50

-6.69%

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

$1,579 $1,579

$694 $694

127.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K $17.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

-28.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.39 $40.39

$30.29 $30.29

33.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.98 $39.98

$40.57 $40.57

-1.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 $88.1

$81.2 $81.2

8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 $99.9

$104 $104

-4.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,477 $1,477

$1,576 $1,576

-6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 $1,060

$712 $712

49.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,854 $2,854

$2,674 $2,674

6.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 $1,996

$2,259 $2,259

-11.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,510 $3,510

$9,955 $9,955

-64.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,044 $2,044

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,068 $4,068

$3,461 $3,461

17.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.55

-0.15%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: April 21, 2026

Last update for Normal, IL: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,477 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,576 in Normal, IL. 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 18% higher in Cincinnati, OH, 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 $60 in Cincinnati, OH versus $51 in Normal, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Cincinnati, OH vs $366 in Normal, IL – so Cincinnati, OH wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cincinnati, OH vs Normal, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,174 in Cincinnati, OH, $1,893 in Normal, IL – roughly 15% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,261 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $2,839 in Normal, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,174 in Cincinnati, OH and $1,893 in Normal, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Normal, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Normal, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,893, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,174. In Normal, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Normal, IL – 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 Normal, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cincinnati, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.