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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cleveland, OH is 12.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cleveland, OH is 18.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.02 $18.02
$20.82 $20.82
-13.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8 $54.8
$100 $100
-45.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 $9.24
$11.97 $11.97
-22.81%
Cappuccino
$5.29 $5.29
$5.56 $5.56
-4.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.11 $3.11
-27.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.42 $2.42
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.1 $4.1
$6.86 $6.86
-40.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.6 $6.6
$8.45 $8.45
-21.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.04 $1.04
-16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$4.15 $4.15
-24.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.46 $4.46
$5.52 $5.52
-19.20%
Eggs
$4 $4
$4.65 $4.65
-13.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.01 $10.01
$14.33 $14.33
-30.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.2 $12.2
$14.88 $14.88
-18.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.4 $20.4
$19.34 $19.34
5.48%
Apples (1kg)
$4.5 $4.5
$5.17 $5.17
-12.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.71 $1.71
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$4.41 $4.41
-21.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$4.51 $4.51
-13.30%
Potato (1kg)
$4.1 $4.1
$2.53 $2.53
62.06%
Onion (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$2.74 $2.74
74.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.43 $2.43
7.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.7 $2.7
-8.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.6 $9.6
$15.19 $15.19
-36.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$16.42 $16.42
-10.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.35 $2.35
-16.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.7 $3.7
-19.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.53 $2.53
0.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.7 $96.7
$74.1 $74.1
30.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.34 $3.34
-19.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.42 $1.42
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.7 $25.7
$25.42 $25.42
1.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.08 $1.08
-24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K $33.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
4.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$314 $314
$188 $188
66.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.8 $48.8
$63.7 $63.7
-23.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 $63.5
$65.2 $65.2
-2.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.32 $34.32
$76.7 $76.7
-55.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.42 $13.42
$14.93 $14.93
-10.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$993 $993
$2,063 $2,063
-51.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K $18.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-51.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$64.3 $64.3
-12.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.12 $46.12
$52.4 $52.4
-11.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$95.2 $95.2
17.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$145 $145
-3.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 $1,427
$2,378 $2,378
-40.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,024 $1,024
$1,584 $1,584
-35.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,725 $2,725
$4,763 $4,763
-42.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,679 $1,679
$2,815 $2,815
-40.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,338 $1,338
$3,588 $3,588
-62.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,115 $1,115
$2,490 $2,490
-55.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,333 $3,333
$5,275 $5,275
-36.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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

Last update for Cleveland, OH: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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