Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Chapel Hill, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentonville, AR and Chapel Hill, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,478 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,668 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $3,962 in Chapel Hill, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,858 per month in Bentonville, AR vs $5,284 in Chapel Hill, NC, rent included.

Bentonville, AR is about 6% cheaper than Chapel Hill, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bentonville, AR and Chapel Hill, NC sit above the global median – Bentonville, AR by 85%, Chapel Hill, NC by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.64 $21.64

$15.13 $15.13

43.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.8 $85.8

$80.1 $80.1

7.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.78 $10.78

$9.90 $9.90

8.89%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$4.25 $4.25

26.35%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$2.43 $2.43

10.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.89 $1.89

16.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.98 $5.98

1.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.52 $6.52

$6.84 $6.84

-4.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.11 $4.11

-20.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$4.26 $4.26

-29.58%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.47 $4.47

8.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 $9.92

$16.88 $16.88

-41.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$14.38 $14.38

14.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$11.95 $11.95

36.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 $4.48

$5.79 $5.79

-22.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.50 $1.50

-10.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$5.78 $5.78

-50.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.09 $4.09

-34.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.72 $2.72

-11.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.81 $2.81

-6.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.73 $1.73

8.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.72 $1.72

12.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.28 $10.28

$6.90 $6.90

48.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.19 $12.19

$12.80 $12.80

-4.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.69 $1.69

-3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.37 $2.37

-8.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.04 $2.04

-2.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.95 $2.95

-17.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.83 $1.83

-19.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.10 $24.10

$29.70 $29.70

-18.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.86 $0.86

-9.30%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$28.3K $28.3K

-16.35%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.0K $25.0K

3.93%

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

$197 $197

$140 $140

41.31%

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

$48.02 $48.02

$55.6 $55.6

-13.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$72.9 $72.9

-8.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.70 $25.70

$42.15 $42.15

-39.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.01 $5.01

Cinema Ticket

$12.43 $12.43

$9.88 $9.88

25.81%

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

$1,047 $1,047

$1,318 $1,318

-20.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.7K $18.7K

$24.4K $24.4K

-23.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.68 $46.68

$49.40 $49.40

-5.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.77 $39.77

$30.26 $30.26

31.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 $68.0

$87.0 $87.0

-21.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 $69.6

$81.9 $81.9

-15.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 $1,708

$1,324 $1,324

28.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$1,457 $1,457

-12.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,999 $2,999

$3,427 $3,427

-12.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$2,709 $2,709

-23.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,872 $3,872

$2,683 $2,683

44.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,348 $2,348

$2,740 $2,740

-14.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,724 $5,724

$5,464 $5,464

4.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.54

0.31%

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

Last update for Bentonville, AR: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,708 in Bentonville, AR versus $1,324 in Chapel Hill, NC. 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 5% higher in Bentonville, AR, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86.0 in Bentonville, AR versus $80.0 in Chapel Hill, NC. Groceries tell a different story – $371 in Bentonville, AR vs $405 in Chapel Hill, NC – so Bentonville, AR wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bentonville, AR vs Chapel Hill, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,478 in Bentonville, AR, $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC – roughly 7% apart. Chapel Hill, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,717 per month in Bentonville, AR and $3,960 in Chapel Hill, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bentonville, AR, 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 $2,478 in Bentonville, AR and $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,047 per month in Bentonville, AR and $1,318 in Chapel Hill, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Bentonville, AR, where all-in costs run around $2,478, than in Chapel Hill, NC at $2,640. In Bentonville, AR it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chapel Hill, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bentonville, AR – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bentonville, AR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chapel Hill, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.