Cost of Living Comparison Between Asheville, NC and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Asheville, NC and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Asheville, NC is 4.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Asheville, NC is 3.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.86 $21.86
$20.82 $20.82
5.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 $10.16
$11.97 $11.97
-15.12%
Cappuccino
$5.75 $5.75
$5.56 $5.56
3.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.11 $3.11
-19.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.42 $2.42
-17.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.62 $7.62
$6.86 $6.86
11.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.45 $9.45
$8.45 $8.45
11.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$4.21 $4.21
$4.15 $4.15
1.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$5.52 $5.52
-21.56%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$4.65 $4.65
-22.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.59 $13.59
$14.33 $14.33
-5.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.32 $13.32
$14.88 $14.88
-10.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.7 $15.7
$19.34 $19.34
-18.82%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$5.17 $5.17
-13.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.71 $1.71
-2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.41 $4.41
-12.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.78 $4.78
$4.51 $4.51
5.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.53 $2.53
7.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.74 $2.74
26.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.43 $2.43
-4.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.7 $2.7
-14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.64 $7.64
$15.19 $15.19
-49.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$16.42 $16.42
-8.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.35 $2.35
-23.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69 $4.69
$3.7 $3.7
26.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 $1.64
$2.53 $2.53
-35.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.9 $50.9
$74.1 $74.1
-31.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.34 $3.34
31.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 $3.09
$1.42 $1.42
117.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.67 $41.67
$25.42 $25.42
63.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 $174
$188 $188
-7.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$66.7 $66.7
$63.7 $63.7
4.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$97.3 $97.3
$65.2 $65.2
49.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.48 $43.48
$76.7 $76.7
-43.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.81 $27.81
$13.03 $13.03
113.43%
Cinema Ticket
$13 $13
$14.93 $14.93
-12.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,582 $2,582
$2,063 $2,063
25.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.2K $26.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-33.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7 $57.7
$64.3 $64.3
-10.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.37 $49.37
$52.4 $52.4
-5.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$95.2 $95.2
25.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 $154
$145 $145
6.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 $2,037
$2,378 $2,378
-14.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$1,584 $1,584
2.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,089 $4,089
$4,763 $4,763
-14.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,991 $2,991
$2,815 $2,815
6.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,522 $3,522
$3,588 $3,588
-1.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,280 $3,280
$2,490 $2,490
31.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Asheville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,623 $3,623
$5,275 $5,275
-31.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
6.6
-1.97%

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

Last update for Asheville, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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