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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,340 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,204 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,501 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,530 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,662 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,856 in Rockford, IL, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH costs about 6% more than Rockford, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Rockford, IL sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 70%, Rockford, IL by 60%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.21 $15.21

$15.64 $15.64

-2.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 $50.5

$68.7 $68.7

-26.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.04 $10.04

-0.90%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$5.11 $5.11

-4.31%

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

$2.31 $2.31

$2.95 $2.95

-21.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.11 $2.11

-9.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.38 $4.38

24.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.59 $7.59

$6.80 $6.80

11.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.82 $0.82

14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.24 $3.24

0.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.31 $5.31

-21.09%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.90 $2.90

46.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 $13.00

$9.97 $9.97

30.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.98 $10.98

$13.90 $13.90

-21.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.24 $16.24

$16.69 $16.69

-2.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.02 $5.02

11.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.52 $1.52

4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.82 $3.82

16.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$5.25 $5.25

-12.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.48 $2.48

4.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.61 $2.61

22.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.13 $2.13

-5.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.93 $1.93

-4.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.33 $10.33

$10.71 $10.71

-3.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$15.83 $15.83

-5.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.03 $2.03

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.87 $1.87

63.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.47 $1.47

76.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

$54.8 $54.8

93.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.78 $2.78

35.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.56 $1.56

-18.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$20.98 $20.98

20.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.97 $0.97

11.34%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$35.4K $35.4K

0.39%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

0.24%

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

$152 $152

$193 $193

-21.08%

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

$76.8 $76.8

$46.06 $46.06

66.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.8 $70.8

$71.4 $71.4

-0.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.48 $34.48

$41.45 $41.45

-16.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.95 $13.95

$24.91 $24.91

-44.00%

Cinema Ticket

$14.23 $14.23

$14.44 $14.44

-1.45%

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

$1,438 $1,438

$519 $519

177.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.6K $19.6K

$4,066 $4,066

381.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.81 $45.81

$44.97 $44.97

1.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.91 $44.91

$35.26 $35.26

27.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 $81.8

$94.6 $94.6

-13.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$111 $111

-1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,635 $1,635

$1,294 $1,294

26.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 $1,062

$917 $917

15.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,158 $3,158

$2,304 $2,304

37.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 $1,853

$2,064 $2,064

-10.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,437 $3,437

$1,460 $1,460

135.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,134 $2,134

$1,436 $1,436

48.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,184 $4,184

$3,309 $3,309

26.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.12

1.47%

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: August 30, 2026

Last update for Rockford, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,635 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,294 in Rockford, 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 26% 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 $50.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $69.0 in Rockford, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $389 – making Cincinnati, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rockford, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,340 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,204 in Rockford, IL – roughly 6% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,509 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,307 in Rockford, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, 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 $2,340 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,204 in Rockford, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 94% less in Rockford, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockford, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,204, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,340. In Rockford, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockford, 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 Rockford, 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.