Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, IN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, IN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbus, IN is 22.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbus, IN is 16.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.43 $16.43

$20.82 $20.82

-21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61 $61

$100 $100

-39.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.06 $10.06

$11.97 $11.97

-15.96%

Cappuccino

$4.06 $4.06

$5.56 $5.56

-26.98%

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

$2.36 $2.36

$3.11 $3.11

-24.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.42 $2.42

-28.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.79 $8.79

$6.86 $6.86

28.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$12.16 $12.16

$8.45 $8.45

43.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.04 $1.04

-27.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 $2.39

$4.15 $4.15

-42.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$5.52 $5.52

-48.37%

Eggs

$2.35 $2.35

$4.65 $4.65

-49.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$14.33 $14.33

-20.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.68 $17.68

$14.88 $14.88

18.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.48 $9.48

$19.34 $19.34

-50.98%

Apples (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$5.17 $5.17

-17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.71 $1.71

-27.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.41 $4.41

-3.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.53 $2.53

12.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.74 $2.74

10.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.43 $2.43

-20.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 $0.43

$2.7 $2.7

-84.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.53 $7.53

$15.19 $15.19

-50.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.4 $13.4

$16.42 $16.42

-18.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.7 $1.7

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.7 $3.7

31.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.34 $3.34

3.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.42 $1.42

10.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$25.42 $25.42

16.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-6.36%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.69%

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

$207 $207

$188 $188

10.00%

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

$44.81 $44.81

$63.7 $63.7

-29.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$65.2 $65.2

-4.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$76.7 $76.7

-40.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.78 $34.78

$13.03 $13.03

166.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 $12.23

$14.93 $14.93

-18.08%

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

$552 $552

$2,063 $2,063

-73.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,913 $4,913

$39.2K $39.2K

-87.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.12 $46.12

$64.3 $64.3

-28.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.35 $40.35

$52.4 $52.4

-22.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74 $74

$95.2 $95.2

-22.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$145 $145

-26.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,199 $1,199

$2,378 $2,378

-49.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 $1,019

$1,584 $1,584

-35.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$4,763 $4,763

-60.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,783 $1,783

$2,815 $2,815

-36.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,628 $1,628

$3,588 $3,588

-54.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,638 $1,638

$2,490 $2,490

-34.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,962 $3,962

$5,275 $5,275

-24.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.6

-0.91%

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

Last update for Columbus, IN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Barcelona

🇪🇸 Spain

Athens

🇬🇷 Greece

Madrid

🇪🇸 Spain

Rome

🇮🇹 Italy

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia

Brisbane

🇦🇺 Australia

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea