Cost of Living Comparison Between Chapel Hill, NC and Owensboro, KY Cost of Living Comparison Between Chapel Hill, NC and Owensboro, KY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $1,971 in Owensboro, KY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,962 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $2,734 in Owensboro, KY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,284 in Chapel Hill, NC versus $3,497 in Owensboro, KY.

Living in Chapel Hill, NC is roughly 34% more expensive than Owensboro, KY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chapel Hill, NC 97% above, Owensboro, KY 47% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 $15.13

$17.92 $17.92

-15.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$59.0 $59.0

35.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$10.17 $10.17

-2.65%

Cappuccino

$4.25 $4.25

$6.03 $6.03

-29.52%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.30 $1.30

45.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$4.10 $4.10

45.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$4.99 $4.99

37.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.11 $1.11

-20.72%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.25 $3.25

26.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.42 $4.42

-3.62%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.89 $3.89

14.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.88 $16.88

$6.56 $6.56

157.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.38 $14.38

$10.93 $10.93

31.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.92 $8.92

33.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.79 $5.79

$4.28 $4.28

35.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.33 $1.33

12.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.78 $5.78

$2.70 $2.70

114.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.47 $3.47

17.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.19 $2.19

24.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.24 $2.24

25.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.06 $2.06

-16.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.53 $1.53

12.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.90 $6.90

$9.16 $9.16

-24.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.80 $12.80

$7.92 $7.92

61.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.07 $2.07

-18.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$4.47 $4.47

-46.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.97 $0.97

110.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.31 $30.31

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$5.01 $5.01

-41.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.54 $1.54

18.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$21.38 $21.38

38.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.78 $0.78

10.26%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$32.9K $32.9K

-13.89%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-6.94%

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

$140 $140

$169 $169

-17.32%

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

$55.6 $55.6

$59.9 $59.9

-7.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$60.9 $60.9

19.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 $42.15

$51.0 $51.0

-17.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.10 $10.10

Cinema Ticket

$9.88 $9.88

$13.35 $13.35

-25.99%

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

$1,318 $1,318

$1,262 $1,262

4.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$30.3K $30.3K

-19.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.40 $49.40

$60.7 $60.7

-18.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.26 $30.26

$47.57 $47.57

-36.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 $87.0

$91.2 $91.2

-4.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 $81.9

$136 $136

-39.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 $1,324

$718 $718

84.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 $1,457

$776 $776

87.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,427 $3,427

$1,054 $1,054

225.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,709 $2,709

$937 $937

189.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,683 $2,683

$1,652 $1,652

62.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$1,675 $1,675

63.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,464 $5,464

$3,402 $3,402

60.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.47

1.08%

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 Owensboro, KY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,324 in Chapel Hill, NC and $718 in Owensboro, KY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chapel Hill, NC pays 61% 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 Owensboro, KY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $308 per month, with Owensboro, KY 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 Owensboro, KY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Owensboro, KY wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Chapel Hill, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Owensboro, KY the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Chapel Hill, NC pays 61% 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 $718 in Owensboro, KY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% 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 $1,971 in Owensboro, KY – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,971 in Owensboro, KY versus $2,640 in Chapel Hill, NC, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Owensboro, KY but tight or insufficient in Chapel Hill, NC. The gap between the two cities makes Owensboro, KY 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 Owensboro, KY gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Chapel Hill, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.