Cost of Living Comparison Between Normal, IL and Cincinnati, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Normal, IL and Cincinnati, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,884 per month in Normal, IL vs $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,339 per month in Normal, IL vs $3,297 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,794 per month in Normal, IL vs $4,470 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

Normal, IL is about 11% cheaper than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Normal, IL and Cincinnati, OH sit above the global median – Normal, IL by 41%, Cincinnati, OH by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.20 $10.20

$14.90 $14.90

-31.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.49 $49.49

$59.1 $59.1

-16.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 $9.81

$8.15 $8.15

20.37%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$4.47 $4.47

14.54%

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

$3.10 $3.10

$2.23 $2.23

39.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.14 $2.14

4.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$4.90 $4.90

3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.93 $6.93

1.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.83 $0.83

4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.32 $3.32

-20.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.87 $3.87

-16.80%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$3.25 $3.25

23.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 $8.83

$10.37 $10.37

-14.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$9.58 $9.58

28.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$15.51 $15.51

-2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.69 $4.69

20.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.44 $1.44

-18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.93 $3.93

19.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$5.06 $5.06

-5.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.08 $2.08

5.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.05 $3.05

-27.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.76 $1.76

13.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.41 $1.41

95.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.57 $10.57

$8.92 $8.92

18.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.86 $10.86

$15.04 $15.04

-27.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.00 $2.00

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.75 $1.75

69.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.04 $2.04

0.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.7 $91.7

$79.6 $79.6

15.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 $2.87

$3.68 $3.68

-22.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.21 $1.21

28.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.86 $20.86

$24.64 $24.64

-15.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.89 $0.89

-5.62%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$35.1K $35.1K

-13.68%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$24.7K $24.7K

4.54%

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

$187 $187

$119 $119

56.70%

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

$39.73 $39.73

$56.9 $56.9

-30.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 $62.8

$57.0 $57.0

10.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.56 $42.56

$30.32 $30.32

40.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 $8.50

Cinema Ticket

$14.44 $14.44

$13.96 $13.96

3.44%

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

$709 $709

$1,595 $1,595

-55.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$17.1K $17.1K

43.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.49 $30.49

$41.05 $41.05

-25.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.86 $39.86

$39.57 $39.57

0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 $80.5

$90.2 $90.2

-10.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$99.2 $99.2

5.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,625 $1,625

$1,476 $1,476

10.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 $713

$1,055 $1,055

-32.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,670 $2,670

$2,899 $2,899

-7.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 $2,187

$1,965 $1,965

11.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,880 $9,880

$3,481 $3,481

183.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,073 $2,073

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,217 $4,217

$4,055 $4,055

4.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.54

0.15%

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

Last update for Normal, IL: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in Normal, IL versus $1,476 in Cincinnati, OH. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Normal, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Normal, IL versus $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH. Groceries tell a different story – $364 in Normal, IL vs $349 in Cincinnati, OH – so Cincinnati, OH wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Normal, IL vs Cincinnati, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,884 in Normal, IL, $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH – roughly 13% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,826 per month in Normal, IL and $3,187 in Cincinnati, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Normal, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,884 in Normal, IL and $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Normal, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Normal, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,884, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,125. In Normal, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Normal, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Normal, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cincinnati, OH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.