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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Lorain, OH is 35.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Lorain, OH is 26.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.31 $17.31
$20.82 $20.82
-16.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2 $68.2
$100 $100
-32.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.06 $10.06
$11.97 $11.97
-15.96%
Cappuccino
$3.44 $3.44
$5.56 $5.56
-38.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.11 $3.11
-21.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.42 $2.42
-36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.89 $4.89
$6.86 $6.86
-28.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 $4.78
$8.45 $8.45
-43.43%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.67 $0.67
$1.04 $1.04
-35.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 $2.58
$4.15 $4.15
-37.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$5.52 $5.52
4.17%
Eggs
$2.27 $2.27
$4.65 $4.65
-51.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.31 $7.31
$14.33 $14.33
-48.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.3 $10.3
$14.88 $14.88
-30.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.22 $10.22
$19.34 $19.34
-47.16%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$5.17 $5.17
-13.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.71 $1.71
-31.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.77 $5.77
$4.41 $4.41
30.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.3 $5.3
$4.51 $4.51
17.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.74 $2.74
-6.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.43 $2.43
-14.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.7 $2.7
-24.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$15.19 $15.19
-34.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$16.42 $16.42
-8.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.35 $2.35
-10.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.7 $3.7
-30.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.34 $3.34
-25.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.42 $1.42
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.86 $47.86
$25.42 $25.42
88.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.08 $1.08
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.24%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$248 $248
$188 $188
31.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.2 $56.2
$63.7 $63.7
-11.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1 $54.1
$65.2 $65.2
-17.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.67 $43.67
$76.7 $76.7
-43.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.89 $10.89
$14.93 $14.93
-27.06%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$2,063 $2,063
-38.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17K $17K
$39.2K $39.2K
-56.68%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.35 $39.35
$64.3 $64.3
-38.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.76 $30.76
$52.4 $52.4
-41.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 $75.5
$95.2 $95.2
-20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 $100
$145 $145
-30.67%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,600 $1,600
$2,378 $2,378
-32.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,363 $1,363
$1,584 $1,584
-13.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,616 $2,616
$4,763 $4,763
-45.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,182 $2,182
$2,815 $2,815
-22.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,577 $2,577
$3,588 $3,588
-28.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,303 $2,303
$2,490 $2,490
-7.50%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lorain, OH
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

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

Last update for Lorain, OH: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.