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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Lima, OH is 23.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Lima, OH is 24.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.75 $19.75
$20.82 $20.82
-5.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 $79.1
$100 $100
-21.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 $10.91
$11.97 $11.97
-8.86%
Cappuccino
$5.02 $5.02
$5.56 $5.56
-9.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.11 $3.11
-19.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.42 $2.42
-10.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 $5.83
$6.86 $6.86
-15.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06 $7.06
$8.45 $8.45
-16.45%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.04 $1.04
-17.31%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 $3.04
$4.15 $4.15
-26.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$5.52 $5.52
-26.09%
Eggs
$3.15 $3.15
$4.65 $4.65
-32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.03 $13.03
$14.33 $14.33
-9.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.74 $13.74
$14.88 $14.88
-7.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.3 $16.3
$19.34 $19.34
-15.72%
Apples (1kg)
$5.91 $5.91
$5.17 $5.17
14.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$4.41 $4.41
29.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$4.51 $4.51
9.98%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.53 $2.53
40.32%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.74 $2.74
13.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.43 $2.43
-10.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.7 $2.7
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.38 $9.38
$15.19 $15.19
-38.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.73 $17.73
$16.42 $16.42
7.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.35 $2.35
-18.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$3.7 $3.7
-32.43%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.53 $2.53
-18.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.18 $43.18
$74.1 $74.1
-41.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.42 $1.42
7.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.12 $27.12
$25.42 $25.42
6.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.01%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 $275
$188 $188
46.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$63.7 $63.7
-5.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$65.2 $65.2
5.00%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.3 $37.3
$76.7 $76.7
-51.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.61 $35.61
$13.03 $13.03
173.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.82 $11.82
$14.93 $14.93
-20.83%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,238 $1,238
$2,063 $2,063
-40.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K $15.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-61.45%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 $54.3
$64.3 $64.3
-15.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.61 $38.61
$52.4 $52.4
-26.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.8 $81.8
$95.2 $95.2
-14.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$145 $145
-28.09%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$886 $886
$2,378 $2,378
-62.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,121 $1,121
$1,584 $1,584
-29.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,665 $2,665
$4,763 $4,763
-44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,182 $2,182
$2,815 $2,815
-22.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,457 $1,457
$3,588 $3,588
-59.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 $1,409
$2,490 $2,490
-43.42%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lima, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,763 $4,763
$5,275 $5,275
-9.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Lima, OH: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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