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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cary, NC is 6.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cary, NC is 15.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75 $17.75
$20.82 $20.82
-14.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$100 $100
-0.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 $10.66
$11.97 $11.97
-10.94%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.56 $5.56
-10.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.11 $3.11
-35.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.42 $2.42
-21.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$6.86 $6.86
-26.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$8.45 $8.45
-21.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.04 $1.04
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$5.68 $5.68
$4.15 $4.15
36.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$5.52 $5.52
15.04%
Eggs
$4.64 $4.64
$4.65 $4.65
-0.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.29 $20.29
$14.33 $14.33
41.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.33 $12.33
$14.88 $14.88
-17.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 $17.32
$19.34 $19.34
-10.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.56 $5.56
$5.17 $5.17
7.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.71 $1.71
2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$4.41 $4.41
-3.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$4.51 $4.51
49.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.53 $2.53
0.40%
Onion (1kg)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.74 $2.74
25.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.43 $2.43
15.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.7 $2.7
-28.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.82 $9.82
$15.19 $15.19
-35.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 $11.95
$16.42 $16.42
-27.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.35 $2.35
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88 $4.88
$3.7 $3.7
31.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.53 $2.53
-27.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 $60.3
$74.1 $74.1
-18.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.34 $3.34
2.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.98 $28.98
$25.42 $25.42
14.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
7.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$188 $188
-8.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.95 $49.95
$63.7 $63.7
-21.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$65.2 $65.2
-3.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 $76.9
$76.7 $76.7
0.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.64 $13.64
$14.93 $14.93
-8.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,472 $1,472
$2,063 $2,063
-28.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.59 $47.59
$64.3 $64.3
-26.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.91 $31.91
$52.4 $52.4
-39.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$95.2 $95.2
33.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$145 $145
-5.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,761 $1,761
$2,378 $2,378
-25.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$1,584 $1,584
1.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,600 $2,600
$4,763 $4,763
-45.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,689 $2,689
$2,815 $2,815
-4.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 $2,871
$3,588 $3,588
-19.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,659 $2,659
$2,490 $2,490
6.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cary, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,908 $5,908
$5,275 $5,275
12.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.31
6.6
-4.39%

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

Last update for Cary, NC: October 27, 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.