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

🙂 Solo nomad: Burlington, NC is 20.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Burlington, NC is 19.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.64 $18.64

$20.53 $20.53

-9.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.1 $75.1

$99.3 $99.3

-24.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.08 $11.08

$12.22 $12.22

-9.33%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$5.75 $5.75

-10.78%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.97 $2.97

-12.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.37 $2.37

-18.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$7.03 $7.03

-15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$8.3 $8.3

-17.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.05 $1.05

-3.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.99 $3.99

-11.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.48 $5.48

-20.26%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$4.71 $4.71

-10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 $12.32

$14.09 $14.09

-12.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.6 $11.6

$15.15 $15.15

-23.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$19.09 $19.09

-20.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$5.23 $5.23

-4.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.33 $4.33

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$4.4 $4.4

7.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.43 $2.43

18.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.84 $2.84

0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.38 $2.38

-11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.57 $2.57

-17.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$15.21 $15.21

-35.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.98 $13.98

$15.26 $15.26

-8.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.45 $2.45

-25.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.62 $3.62

-9.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.19 $3.19

7.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.44 $1.44

14.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.18 $29.18

$24.54 $24.54

18.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.04 $1.04

-12.50%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32K $32K

-8.20%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.87%

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

$186 $186

-0.18%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$62.7 $62.7

-16.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68 $68

$66 $66

3.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.18 $43.18

$75.1 $75.1

-42.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.69 $13.69

$14.95 $14.95

-8.43%

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

$1,324 $1,324

$2,046 $2,046

-35.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$38.7K $38.7K

-38.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$64.9 $64.9

-22.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.66 $39.66

$52 $52

-23.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$95.6 $95.6

-9.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$143 $143

-20.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$2,330 $2,330

-30.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 $1,368

$1,591 $1,591

-14.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$4,654 $4,654

-44.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,229 $2,229

$2,777 $2,777

-19.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,766 $2,766

$3,674 $3,674

-24.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,464 $2,464

$2,686 $2,686

-8.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Burlington, NC: November 30, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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