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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,602 per month in Chapel Hill, NC vs $2,452 in Bentonville, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,981 per month in Chapel Hill, NC vs $3,601 in Bentonville, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,361 per month in Chapel Hill, NC vs $4,751 in Bentonville, AR, rent included.

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

Both Chapel Hill, NC and Bentonville, AR sit above the global median – Chapel Hill, NC by 95%, Bentonville, AR by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 $14.77

$21.65 $21.65

-31.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$84.4 $84.4

-4.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.82 $10.82

-8.32%

Cappuccino

$4.21 $4.21

$5.43 $5.43

-22.47%

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

$2.46 $2.46

$2.63 $2.63

-6.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.22 $2.22

-12.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.99 $5.99

1.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.67 $6.67

6.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.11 $1.11

-14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.15 $3.15

24.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.07 $3.07

36.16%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.65 $4.65

-3.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$9.54 $9.54

75.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.19 $14.19

$16.42 $16.42

-13.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$16.57 $16.57

-27.94%

Apples (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$4.55 $4.55

27.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.29 $1.29

16.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$2.92 $2.92

108.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.74 $2.74

41.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.28 $2.28

19.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.70 $2.70

4.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.91 $1.91

-9.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.97 $1.97

-13.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.20 $7.20

$10.13 $10.13

-28.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.94 $11.94

10.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.67 $1.67

4.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.16 $2.16

10.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.02 $2.02

-3.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.45 $2.45

20.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.46 $1.46

30.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.23 $30.23

$24.03 $24.03

25.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.78 $0.78

3.85%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

19.09%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.5K $26.5K

-7.41%

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

$141 $141

$193 $193

-27.10%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$47.84 $47.84

14.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.2 $73.2

$65.3 $65.3

12.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 $41.59

$25.26 $25.26

64.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.03 $5.03

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 $10.18

$12.55 $12.55

-18.88%

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

$1,321 $1,321

$1,046 $1,046

26.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$18.7K $18.7K

30.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.37 $48.37

$47.20 $47.20

2.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.98 $29.98

$39.72 $39.72

-24.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$69.4 $69.4

23.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.6 $82.6

$69.2 $69.2

19.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 $1,340

$1,666 $1,666

-19.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,460 $1,460

$1,240 $1,240

17.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,394 $3,394

$3,034 $3,034

11.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,624 $2,624

$2,085 $2,085

25.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,712 $2,712

$3,943 $3,943

-31.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 $2,649

$2,369 $2,369

11.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,429 $5,429

$5,763 $5,763

-5.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.56

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bentonville, AR: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,340 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $1,666 in Bentonville, AR. 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 6% 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 $81.0 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $84.0 in Bentonville, AR. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in Chapel Hill, NC vs $370 in Bentonville, AR – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,602 in Chapel Hill, NC, $2,452 in Bentonville, AR – roughly 6% apart. Chapel Hill, NC costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,903 per month in Chapel Hill, NC and $3,677 in Bentonville, AR. 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 $2,602 in Chapel Hill, NC and $2,452 in Bentonville, AR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,321 per month in Chapel Hill, NC and $1,046 in Bentonville, AR. 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 $2,452, than in Chapel Hill, NC at $2,602. 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.