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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,081 in Asheville, NC versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,690 in Asheville, NC versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,299 in Asheville, NC versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs are close between Asheville, NC and Chicago, IL; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Asheville, NC 131% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.94 $21.94

$20.17 $20.17

8.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$99.5 $99.5

2.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$12.23 $12.23

-19.46%

Cappuccino

$5.74 $5.74

$5.60 $5.60

2.50%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$3.12 $3.12

-18.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.31 $7.31

$6.93 $6.93

5.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.45 $9.45

$8.20 $8.20

15.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.08 $1.08

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.97 $3.97

9.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$5.58 $5.58

-24.73%

Eggs

$3.58 $3.58

$4.47 $4.47

-19.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.76 $13.76

$14.50 $14.50

-5.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.43 $13.43

$15.08 $15.08

-10.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 $15.97

$19.34 $19.34

-17.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.37 $5.37

-16.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.76 $1.76

-6.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$4.32 $4.32

-12.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.41 $4.41

8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.54 $2.54

6.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$2.70 $2.70

28.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.49 $2.49

-9.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.60 $2.60

-16.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.30 $7.30

$14.80 $14.80

-50.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.18 $15.18

-1.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.47 $2.47

-25.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.60 $3.60

32.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.54 $2.54

-35.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.7 $50.7

$76.3 $76.3

-33.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.30 $3.30

38.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.38 $1.38

120.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.69 $41.69

$25.36 $25.36

64.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.09 $1.09

-21.10%

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

$33.7K $33.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

6.64%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

-8.27%

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

$174 $174

$186 $186

-6.53%

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

$65.5 $65.5

$62.9 $62.9

4.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.5 $98.5

$66.2 $66.2

48.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.05 $43.05

$77.6 $77.6

-44.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.51 $28.51

$13.16 $13.16

116.64%

Cinema Ticket

$13.10 $13.10

$14.74 $14.74

-11.13%

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

$2,577 $2,577

$2,039 $2,039

26.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.8K $25.8K

$39.9K $39.9K

-35.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 $58.2

$63.9 $63.9

-8.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.44 $49.44

$51.2 $51.2

-3.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$95.2 $95.2

27.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$144 $144

10.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$2,305 $2,305

-9.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,652 $1,652

$1,575 $1,575

4.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,016 $4,016

$4,688 $4,688

-14.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,957 $2,957

$2,737 $2,737

8.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,192 $4,192

$4,063 $4,063

3.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,195 $3,195

$2,696 $2,696

18.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,621 $3,621

$5,019 $5,019

-27.85%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,078 in Asheville, NC and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 39% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $102 in Asheville, NC vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $411 vs $448, with Asheville, NC cheaper for home cooking.

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

Asheville, NC vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,078 in Asheville, NC versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 50% less than in Asheville, NC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Shoppers in Asheville, NC pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

It comes down to priorities – Chicago, IL wins on affordability, Asheville, NC on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.