Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ogden, UT and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Ogden, UT: $2,395 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ogden, UT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,395
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ogden, UT and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ogden, UT and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,395 per month in Ogden, UT vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Ogden, UT $2,395
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,399 per month in Ogden, UT vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Ogden, UT $3,399
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,403 per month in Ogden, UT vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Ogden, UT $4,403
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Ogden, UT is about 24% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ogden, UT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Ogden, UT by 77%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87 $13.87
$20.65 $20.65
-32.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$90.2 $90.2
-32.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.86 $9.86
$12.94 $12.94
-23.80%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.60 $5.60
-11.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.64 $2.64
-14.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.27 $2.27
-26.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.89 $5.89
$6.98 $6.98
-15.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.17 $8.17
$8.83 $8.83
-7.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.27 $1.27
-29.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.70 $2.70
$3.80 $3.80
-28.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$5.30 $5.30
-36.04%
Eggs
$4.10 $4.10
$4.76 $4.76
-13.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 $9.77
$13.96 $13.96
-30.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.45 $8.45
$14.61 $14.61
-42.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.04 $13.04
$18.77 $18.77
-30.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$5.19 $5.19
-23.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.98 $1.98
-30.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.93 $3.93
-26.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$4.96 $4.96
-32.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.76 $2.76
-42.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.76 $2.76
-25.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.22 $2.22
-15.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.98 $2.98
-35.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.76 $8.76
$14.02 $14.02
-37.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$15.28 $15.28
-3.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.58 $2.58
-32.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$3.50 $3.50
-39.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.47 $2.47
3.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.8 $84.8
$74.8 $74.8
13.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.34 $3.34
-25.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.43 $1.43
63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.69 $24.69
$24.32 $24.32
1.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.26 $1.26
-13.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$35.0K $35.0K
-20.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.1K $26.1K
1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$193 $193
2.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.99 $40.99
$68.3 $68.3
-39.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$61.3 $61.3
-1.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.12 $20.12
$54.1 $54.1
-62.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.16 $15.16
$17.74 $17.74
-14.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,300 $1,300
$1,652 $1,652
-21.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K $20.2K
$31.1K $31.1K
-34.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.62 $39.62
$66.1 $66.1
-40.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.08 $46.08
$51.2 $51.2
-10.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$100 $100
11.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$141 $141
-24.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 $1,328
$2,446 $2,446
-45.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,224 $1,224
$1,678 $1,678
-27.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,241 $2,241
$4,717 $4,717
-52.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,896 $1,896
$2,795 $2,795
-32.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,553 $2,553
$4,105 $4,105
-37.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,406 $2,406
$2,650 $2,650
-9.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ogden, UT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,477 $3,477
$4,866 $4,866
-28.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
6.81
-5.14%

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

Last update for Ogden, UT: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ogden, UT
$1.2K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 37% $453
Groceries & Markets
Ogden, UT
$315
Chicago, IL
$449 42.7% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ogden, UT
$298
Chicago, IL
$322 8.1% $24
Eating Out
Ogden, UT
$261
Chicago, IL
$343 31.4% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Ogden, UT
$137
Chicago, IL
$161 18% $25
Getting Around
Ogden, UT
$109
Chicago, IL
$95 12.9% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Ogden, UT
$50
Chicago, IL
$90 77.7% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,328 in Ogden, UT versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. 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 40% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Ogden, UT versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $315 vs $449 – making Ogden, UT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Ogden, UT
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
04:49 4:49 AM
05:49 5:49 AM
1 h ahead of Ogden, UT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
87,321
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ogden, UT Chicago, IL 2,020 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ogden, UT
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ogden, UT vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ogden, UT and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,395 in Ogden, UT, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 31% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Ogden, UT compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,593 per month in Ogden, UT and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ogden, UT and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ogden, UT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Ogden, UT and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ogden, UT, where all-in costs run around $2,395, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Ogden, UT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ogden, UT and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,395 in Ogden, UT to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Ogden, UT and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Ogden, UT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ogden, UT vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?