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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,110 per month in Rockford, IL vs $2,174 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,927 per month in Rockford, IL vs $3,294 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,745 per month in Rockford, IL vs $4,414 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

Rockford, IL is about 3% cheaper than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rockford, IL and Cincinnati, OH sit above the global median – Rockford, IL by 57%, Cincinnati, OH by 62%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.86 $14.86

$15.08 $15.08

-1.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.2 $66.2

$60.1 $60.1

10.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.09 $9.09

$7.85 $7.85

15.80%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$4.26 $4.26

21.83%

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

$2.03 $2.03

$2.20 $2.20

-7.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$2.17 $2.17

-35.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.89 $4.89

-20.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 $6.13

$6.93 $6.93

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.78 $0.78

-12.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.23 $3.23

-31.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.82 $3.82

20.68%

Eggs

$1.65 $1.65

$3.28 $3.28

-49.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 $7.74

$10.31 $10.31

-24.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.53 $12.53

$9.23 $9.23

35.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.45 $15.45

-2.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$4.65 $4.65

21.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.37 $1.37

-21.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.06 $4.06

11.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.94 $4.94

-1.01%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.08 $2.08

2.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$3.02 $3.02

-30.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.75 $1.75

-16.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.47 $1.47

76.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.46 $10.46

$8.86 $8.86

18.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 $15.82

$15.13 $15.13

4.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.00 $2.00

-12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$1.82 $1.82

90.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.98 $1.98

-25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 $55.8

$79.2 $79.2

-29.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.67 $3.67

-25.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.23 $1.23

28.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.65 $20.65

$24.88 $24.88

-17.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.88 $0.88

-6.82%

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

$30.3K $30.3K

$35.5K $35.5K

-14.57%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$25.0K $25.0K

3.09%

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

$180 $180

$120 $120

50.54%

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

$42.80 $42.80

$56.6 $56.6

-24.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 $64.2

$57.2 $57.2

12.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.12 $44.12

$31.19 $31.19

41.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 $8.69

Cinema Ticket

$14.64 $14.64

$13.53 $13.53

8.20%

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

$513 $513

$1,579 $1,579

-67.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,029 $4,029

$17.5K $17.5K

-76.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.69 $42.69

$40.39 $40.39

5.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.60 $44.60

$39.98 $39.98

11.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 $80.3

$88.1 $88.1

-8.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 $95.9

$99.9 $99.9

-4.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 $1,481

$1,477 $1,477

0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$955 $955

$1,060 $1,060

-9.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,447 $1,447

$2,854 $2,854

-49.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 $1,250

$1,996 $1,996

-37.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,456 $1,456

$3,510 $3,510

-58.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,409 $1,409

$2,044 $2,044

-31.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,254 $3,254

$4,068 $4,068

-20.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.77

6.54

-11.77%

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

Last update for Rockford, IL: April 19, 2026

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,481 in Rockford, IL versus $1,477 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 25% higher in Cincinnati, OH, 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 $66 in Rockford, IL versus $60 in Cincinnati, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $345 – making Cincinnati, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,110 in Rockford, IL, $2,174 in Cincinnati, OH – roughly 3% apart. Cincinnati, OH costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,165 per month in Rockford, IL and $3,261 in Cincinnati, OH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, 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 $2,110 in Rockford, IL and $2,174 in Cincinnati, OH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 42% less in Rockford, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rockford, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,110, than in Cincinnati, OH at $2,174. In Rockford, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cincinnati, OH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rockford, 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 Rockford, 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.