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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Dayton, OH is 24.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Dayton, OH is 15.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 33.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.74 $16.74
$20.82 $20.82
-19.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 $60.1
$100 $100
-40.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 $10.09
$11.97 $11.97
-15.71%
Cappuccino
$4.15 $4.15
$5.56 $5.56
-25.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$3.11 $3.11
-22.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.42 $2.42
-30.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.27 $4.27
$6.86 $6.86
-37.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 $5.94
$8.45 $8.45
-29.70%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.04 $1.04
-27.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.5 $2.5
$4.15 $4.15
-39.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$5.52 $5.52
-34.06%
Eggs
$3.38 $3.38
$4.65 $4.65
-27.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.58 $11.58
$14.33 $14.33
-19.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.45 $18.45
$14.88 $14.88
23.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.49 $15.49
$19.34 $19.34
-19.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$5.17 $5.17
-6.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.71 $1.71
-5.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.84 $5.84
$4.41 $4.41
32.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.51 $4.51
14.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.53 $2.53
16.60%
Onion (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.74 $2.74
12.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.43 $2.43
-10.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.7 $2.7
2.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.02 $9.02
$15.19 $15.19
-40.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.85 $11.85
$16.42 $16.42
-27.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.7 $3.7
2.16%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.53 $2.53
64.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.4 $59.4
$74.1 $74.1
-19.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.93 $4.93
$3.34 $3.34
47.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.42 $1.42
1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.3 $50.3
$25.42 $25.42
97.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 $201
$188 $188
6.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.94 $45.94
$63.7 $63.7
-27.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 $63.5
$65.2 $65.2
-2.67%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.99 $32.99
$76.7 $76.7
-57.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.51 $45.51
$13.03 $13.03
249.27%
Cinema Ticket
$13.16 $13.16
$14.93 $14.93
-11.86%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 $544
$2,063 $2,063
-73.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,050 $5,050
$39.2K $39.2K
-87.11%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.94 $45.94
$64.3 $64.3
-28.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$52.4 $52.4
-1.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.3 $73.3
$95.2 $95.2
-23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$145 $145
-25.40%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 $1,212
$2,378 $2,378
-49.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$925 $925
$1,584 $1,584
-41.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 $1,653
$4,763 $4,763
-65.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$2,815 $2,815
-51.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,120 $3,120
$3,588 $3,588
-13.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,427 $1,427
$2,490 $2,490
-42.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Dayton, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,305 $3,305
$5,275 $5,275
-37.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dayton, OH: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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