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

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbus, OH is 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbus, OH is 10.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$20.82 $20.82

-5.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 $80.3

$100 $100

-20.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.21 $11.21

$11.97 $11.97

-6.35%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$5.56 $5.56

-13.49%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$3.11 $3.11

-17.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.42 $2.42

-10.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$6.86 $6.86

-14.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$8.45 $8.45

-18.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.04 $1.04

-14.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.15 $4.15

-26.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.52 $5.52

-24.28%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$4.65 $4.65

-29.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$14.33 $14.33

-7.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.8 $13.8

$14.88 $14.88

-7.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 $15.87

$19.34 $19.34

-17.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$5.17 $5.17

20.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.71 $1.71

-21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 $5.72

$4.41 $4.41

29.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$4.51 $4.51

16.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.53 $2.53

47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.74 $2.74

12.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.43 $2.43

-7.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.7 $2.7

-21.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.46 $9.46

$15.19 $15.19

-37.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 $18.32

$16.42 $16.42

11.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.35 $2.35

-18.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.7 $3.7

-31.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 $63.1

$74.1 $74.1

-14.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.34 $3.34

-9.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.42 $1.42

-12.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.02 $27.02

$25.42 $25.42

6.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$30K $30K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.51%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.92%

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

$270 $270

$188 $188

43.45%

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

$60.1 $60.1

$63.7 $63.7

-5.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 $68.7

$65.2 $65.2

5.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 $46.33

$76.7 $76.7

-39.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.22 $39.22

$13.03 $13.03

201.00%

Cinema Ticket

$11.9 $11.9

$14.93 $14.93

-20.29%

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

$1,237 $1,237

$2,063 $2,063

-40.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K $15.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-61.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$64.3 $64.3

-15.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.74 $38.74

$52.4 $52.4

-26.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 $82.1

$95.2 $95.2

-13.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$145 $145

-28.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 $1,544

$2,378 $2,378

-35.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 $1,196

$1,584 $1,584

-24.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,917 $2,917

$4,763 $4,763

-38.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,106 $2,106

$2,815 $2,815

-25.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,030 $3,030

$3,588 $3,588

-15.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,544 $2,544

$2,490 $2,490

2.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,998 $3,998

$5,275 $5,275

-24.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Columbus, OH: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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