Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa, IL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ottawa, IL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Ottawa, IL is 24.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Ottawa, IL is 36.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.75 $14.75

$20.82 $20.82

-29.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 $50.7

$100 $100

-49.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.9 $10.9

$11.97 $11.97

-8.94%

Cappuccino

$4.41 $4.41

$5.56 $5.56

-20.68%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$3.11 $3.11

-36.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.42 $2.42

-39.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 $3.59

$6.86 $6.86

-47.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$8.45 $8.45

-63.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.04 $1.04

-29.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 $2.61

$4.15 $4.15

-37.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.8 $2.8

$5.52 $5.52

-49.28%

Eggs

$2.67 $2.67

$4.65 $4.65

-42.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.36 $11.36

$14.33 $14.33

-20.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.3 $6.3

$14.88 $14.88

-57.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 $13.35

$19.34 $19.34

-30.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$5.17 $5.17

-56.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.71 $1.71

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$4.41 $4.41

-21.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.1 $4.1

$4.51 $4.51

-9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.53 $2.53

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.74 $2.74

-13.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$2.7 $2.7

-46.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.91 $8.91

$15.19 $15.19

-41.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 $13.04

$16.42 $16.42

-20.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.35 $2.35

-11.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.7 $3.7

-47.03%

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)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.34 $3.34

3.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$25.42 $25.42

17.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.08 $1.08

-13.89%

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

$39.9K $39.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

23.06%

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

$22.7K $22.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-13.25%

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

$214 $214

$188 $188

13.73%

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

$41.55 $41.55

$63.7 $63.7

-34.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 $62.7

$65.2 $65.2

-3.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.87 $42.87

$76.7 $76.7

-44.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.49 $27.49

$13.03 $13.03

110.97%

Cinema Ticket

$12.15 $12.15

$14.93 $14.93

-18.62%

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

$1,216 $1,216

$2,063 $2,063

-41.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.14 $44.14

$64.3 $64.3

-31.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 $39.43

$52.4 $52.4

-24.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$95.2 $95.2

-5.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$145 $145

5.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,632 $1,632

$2,378 $2,378

-31.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$1,584 $1,584

-16.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,598 $2,598

$4,763 $4,763

-45.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,260 $2,260

$2,815 $2,815

-19.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 $2,840

$3,588 $3,588

-20.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,800 $2,800

$2,490 $2,490

12.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,444 $2,444

$5,275 $5,275

-53.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.6

-0.61%

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

Last update for Ottawa, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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