Cost of Living Comparison Between Chapel Hill, NC and Cincinnati, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Chapel Hill, NC and Cincinnati, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,962 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $3,297 in Cincinnati, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,284 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $4,470 in Cincinnati, OH.

Living in Chapel Hill, NC is roughly 24% more expensive than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chapel Hill, NC 97% above, Cincinnati, OH 59% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$14.90 $14.90

1.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$59.1 $59.1

35.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$8.15 $8.15

21.47%

Cappuccino

$4.25 $4.25

$4.47 $4.47

-4.92%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$2.23 $2.23

8.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.14 $2.14

-11.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.90 $4.90

22.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$6.93 $6.93

-1.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.83 $0.83

6.02%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.32 $3.32

23.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.87 $3.87

10.08%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.25 $3.25

37.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.88 $16.88

$10.37 $10.37

62.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.38 $14.38

$9.58 $9.58

50.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$15.51 $15.51

-22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.69 $4.69

23.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.44 $1.44

4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$3.93 $3.93

47.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$5.06 $5.06

-19.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.08 $2.08

30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.05 $3.05

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.76 $1.76

-1.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.41 $1.41

21.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.90 $6.90

$8.92 $8.92

-22.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 $12.80

$15.04 $15.04

-14.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.00 $2.00

-15.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.75 $1.75

35.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.6 $79.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.68 $3.68

-19.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.21 $1.21

51.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$24.64 $24.64

20.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.89 $0.89

-3.37%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$35.1K $35.1K

-19.40%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

1.01%

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

$140 $140

$119 $119

17.14%

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

$55.6 $55.6

$56.9 $56.9

-2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$57.0 $57.0

27.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 $42.15

$30.32 $30.32

39.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 $8.50

Cinema Ticket

$9.88 $9.88

$13.96 $13.96

-29.23%

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

$1,318 $1,318

$1,595 $1,595

-17.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$17.1K $17.1K

42.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 $49.40

$41.05 $41.05

20.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.26 $30.26

$39.57 $39.57

-23.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$90.2 $90.2

-3.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 $81.9

$99.2 $99.2

-17.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 $1,324

$1,476 $1,476

-10.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 $1,457

$1,055 $1,055

38.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,427 $3,427

$2,899 $2,899

18.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,709 $2,709

$1,965 $1,965

37.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,683 $2,683

$3,481 $3,481

-22.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,073 $2,073

32.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,464 $5,464

$4,055 $4,055

34.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

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

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

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,324 in Chapel Hill, NC and $1,476 in Cincinnati, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chapel Hill, NC pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $80.0 in Chapel Hill, NC vs $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $349 per month, with Cincinnati, OH cheaper across the board.

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 Cincinnati, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cincinnati, OH wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Chapel Hill, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cincinnati, OH the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chapel Hill, NC pays 35% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,324 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $1,476 in Cincinnati, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Chapel Hill, NC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,640 per month in Chapel Hill, NC versus $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH versus $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Cincinnati, OH but tight or insufficient in Chapel Hill, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Cincinnati, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Cincinnati, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Chapel Hill, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.