Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Van Wert, OH and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Van Wert, OH: $2,615 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in Van Wert, OH
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Van Wert, OH Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Van Wert, OH

🇺🇸 United States

$2,615

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Van Wert, OH 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 Van Wert, OH and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,615 per month in Van Wert, OH vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Van Wert, OH $2,615
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,864 per month in Van Wert, OH vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Van Wert, OH $3,864
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,113 per month in Van Wert, OH vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Van Wert, OH $5,113
Chicago, IL $5,999

Van Wert, OH is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Van Wert, OH and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Van Wert, OH by 92%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.57 $21.57

$20.71 $20.71

4.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.2 $78.2

$89.2 $89.2

-12.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.20 $12.20

$13.19 $13.19

-7.51%

Cappuccino

$5.38 $5.38

$5.66 $5.66

-4.95%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.64 $2.64

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.28 $2.28

-12.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$6.87 $6.87

-11.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.03 $7.03

$8.84 $8.84

-20.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.25 $1.25

-28.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.72 $3.72

-17.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.39 $5.39

-3.53%

Eggs

$3.90 $3.90

$4.74 $4.74

-17.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 $10.02

$13.84 $13.84

-27.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.83 $14.83

$14.40 $14.40

2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.03 $16.03

$18.38 $18.38

-12.79%

Apples (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$5.22 $5.22

25.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.98 $1.98

-15.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$4.06 $4.06

44.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.97 $4.97

-1.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.67 $2.67

9.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.66 $2.66

27.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.24 $2.24

-0.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$3.13 $3.13

-27.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 $8.78

$13.82 $13.82

-36.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$14.88 $14.88

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.54 $2.54

-17.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.51 $3.51

-11.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.43 $2.43

-7.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 $56.7

$73.5 $73.5

-22.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.18 $3.18

-7.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.39 $1.39

-7.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.26 $27.26

$25.03 $25.03

8.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.20 $1.20

-13.33%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$35.0K $35.0K

-10.76%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.60%

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

$182 $182

$194 $194

-6.57%

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

$66.5 $66.5

$69.5 $69.5

-4.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$61.6 $61.6

9.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.18 $38.18

$47.90 $47.90

-20.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$13.08 $13.08

$17.81 $17.81

-26.56%

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

$1,544 $1,544

$1,794 $1,794

-13.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.8K $34.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

8.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.85 $49.85

$67.0 $67.0

-25.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.10 $42.10

$52.1 $52.1

-19.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 $80.1

$102 $102

-21.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$144 $144

-25.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$2,526 $2,526

-37.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$1,578 $1,578

-18.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,496 $2,496

$4,738 $4,738

-47.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 $2,136

$2,693 $2,693

-20.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,046 $3,046

$4,190 $4,190

-27.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,307 $2,307

$2,768 $2,768

-16.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,099 $4,099

$4,931 $4,931

-16.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

6.81

-2.50%

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

Last update for Van Wert, OH: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Van Wert, OH

$1.3K 49%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 23.2% $297

Groceries & Markets

Van Wert, OH

$417 16%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 7.2% $30

Eating Out

Van Wert, OH

$337 12.9%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 2.5% $8.4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Van Wert, OH

$316 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 3.2% $10

Clothing & Footwear

Van Wert, OH

$126 4.8%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 30.5% $38

Getting Around

Van Wert, OH

$75 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 24.3% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Van Wert, OH

$64 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 29.8% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Van Wert, OH versus $2,526 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 20% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Van Wert, OH versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $447 – making Van Wert, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Van Wert, OH

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

16:33 4:33 PM

15:33 3:33 PM

1 h behind Van Wert, OH

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

11,000

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Van Wert, OH Chicago, IL 280 km

From you

Van Wert, OH
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Van Wert, OH vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,615 in Van Wert, OH, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Van Wert, OH comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,923 per month in Van Wert, OH and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Van Wert, OH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,574 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Van Wert, OH and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Van Wert, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,615, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Van Wert, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Van Wert, OH – 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 Van Wert, OH. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.