Cost of living in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 40% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States)
We need your help!
Expatistan is a collaborative effort. The data gets better with every new price that you enter.
Do you know the prices in Columbus, Ohio or in Chicago, Illinois? You can help!
Improve the prices for Columbus, Ohio! Improve the prices for Chicago, Illinois!
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 424 prices entered by 64 different people.
Full price comparison, by category
(click to expand each category)
Currency:
| Food | + 10% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 10% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Chicago, Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $24 | $24 | + 1% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $12 | $13 | - 9% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $8 | $4.77 | + 57% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $0.99 | $0.99 | - 0% | |
| 12 eggs, large | $7 | $4.50 | + 45% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $4.44 | $4.64 | - 4% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $7 | $7 | + 12% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $5.04 | $3.77 | + 34% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $2.32 | $2.03 | + 14% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $2.88 | $4.05 | - 29% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $16 | $20 | - 21% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | $2.97 | $3.27 | - 9% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $4.30 | $2.42 | + 77% | |
| Housing | + 59% | |||
| Housing in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 59% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Chicago, Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $3,941 | $1,750 | + 125% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $2,714 | $1,495 | + 82% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $157 | $226 | - 31% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $2,276 | $1,594 | + 43% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $1,558 | $1,051 | + 48% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $144 | $141 | + 2% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $66 | $42 | + 56% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | $242 | $269 | - 10% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $192 | $118 | + 63% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $11 | $11 | - 6% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | $42 | $35 | + 18% | |
| Clothes | + 5% | |||
| Clothes in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 5% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Chicago, Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $61 | $62 | - 2% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $50 | $47 | + 8% | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $99 | $105 | - 5% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $145 | $111 | + 31% | |
| Transportation | + 21% | |||
| Transportation in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 21% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Chicago, Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $31,007 | $29,083 | + 7% | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $1.04 | $0.86 | + 21% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | $75 | $58 | + 31% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | $17 | $20 | - 13% | |
| Personal Care | + 40% | |||
| Personal Care in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 40% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Chicago, Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $11 | $8 | + 48% | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $49 | $27 | + 80% | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $136 | $86 | + 58% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $9 | $7 | + 26% | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $4.54 | $5.28 | - 14% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $7 | $3.72 | + 82% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | $3.84 | $4.05 | - 5% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | $2.14 | $2.22 | - 4% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $36 | $25 | + 46% | |
| Entertainment | + 80% | |||
| Entertainment in Chicago, Illinois (United States) is 80% more expensive than in Columbus, Ohio (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| Chicago, Illinois | Columbus, Ohio | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $59 | $51 | + 17% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | $30 | $22 | + 37% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | $292 | $271 | + 8% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $104 | $93 | + 11% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $16 | $12 | + 33% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $5.84 | $4.34 | + 34% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $8 | $7 | + 10% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $605 | $627 | - 4% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $1.43 | $0.39 | + 261% | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | $75 | $44 | + 70% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $15 | $9 | + 73% | |
 |
TOTAL | + 40% | ||
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 424 prices entered by 64 different people.
These prices were last updated on May 14, 2025.
Detailed prices for each city individually
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Pula is about the same as in Bharatpur
- Cost of living in Malaga is 46% cheaper than in Los Angeles, California
- Cost of living in Buenos Aires is 54% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Paris is 30% more expensive than in Vienna
- Cost of living in Dubai is 135% more expensive than in Baghdad
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 30% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Irvine, California is 56% more expensive than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 58% cheaper than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Madrid is 31% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Lima is 16% more expensive than in Bogotá
Compare other countries
For example, you would need at least $7,255 in Chicago, Illinois to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with $5,200 in Columbus, Ohio.
Do you live in Columbus, Ohio? We need your help!
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in St. Louis, Missouri (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Toronto (Canada)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Houston, Texas (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Cleveland, Ohio (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Washington D.C. (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Austin, Texas (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Boston, Massachusetts (United States)
Prices recently added
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Zadar costs €1.35 (about 1 hour ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Marseille costs €2,200 (about 2 hours ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Patiala costs ₨250 (about 2 hours ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Addis Ababa costs 450 Birr (about 5 hours ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Perth costs AU$50 (about 5 hours ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Colombo costs 30,000 ₨ (about 5 hours ago)