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

🙂 Solo nomad: Boone, NC is 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Boone, NC is 36.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 44.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 $12.22
$20.82 $20.82
-41.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.8 $63.8
$100 $100
-36.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.48 $9.48
$11.97 $11.97
-20.80%
Cappuccino
$4.83 $4.83
$5.56 $5.56
-13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.11 $3.11
-13.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.42 $2.42
-5.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.39 $5.39
$6.86 $6.86
-21.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 $7.03
$8.45 $8.45
-16.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.04 $1.04
-7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$4.15 $4.15
-9.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$5.52 $5.52
-19.38%
Eggs
$2.44 $2.44
$4.65 $4.65
-47.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.64 $12.64
$14.33 $14.33
-11.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.8 $13.8
$14.88 $14.88
-7.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.9 $10.9
$19.34 $19.34
-43.64%
Apples (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$5.17 $5.17
23.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2 $2
$1.71 $1.71
16.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.41 $4.41
0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.51 $4.51
-22.84%
Potato (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.53 $2.53
28.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.74 $2.74
16.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.43 $2.43
-25.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.7 $2.7
-19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.9 $6.9
$15.19 $15.19
-54.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.13 $13.13
$16.42 $16.42
-20.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.35 $2.35
-29.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.7 $3.7
-17.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.34 $3.34
3.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.42 $1.42
7.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.92 $17.92
$25.42 $25.42
-29.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-12.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 $80.1
$188 $188
-57.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.2 $44.2
$63.7 $63.7
-30.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.5 $57.5
$65.2 $65.2
-11.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 $69.7
$76.7 $76.7
-9.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.7 $50.7
$13.03 $13.03
289.33%
Cinema Ticket
$11.99 $11.99
$14.93 $14.93
-19.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,682 $1,682
$2,063 $2,063
-18.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K $10.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.75 $46.75
$64.3 $64.3
-27.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.24 $46.24
$52.4 $52.4
-11.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$95.2 $95.2
-16.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.74 $45.74
$145 $145
-68.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,161 $1,161
$2,378 $2,378
-51.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$921 $921
$1,584 $1,584
-41.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,519 $1,519
$4,763 $4,763
-68.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 $1,062
$2,815 $2,815
-62.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,820 $3,820
$3,588 $3,588
6.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,792 $3,792
$2,490 $2,490
52.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boone, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,019 $4,019
$5,275 $5,275
-23.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

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

Last update for Boone, NC: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.