Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlotte, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Charlotte, MI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Charlotte, MI is 21.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Charlotte, MI is 19.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.86 $18.86
$20.82 $20.82
-9.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8 $75.8
$100 $100
-24.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.93 $10.93
$11.97 $11.97
-8.69%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$5.56 $5.56
-6.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$3.11 $3.11
-16.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.42 $2.42
-18.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$6.86 $6.86
-14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93 $6.93
$8.45 $8.45
-17.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.04 $1.04
2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.15 $4.15
-5.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$5.52 $5.52
-41.12%
Eggs
$3.1 $3.1
$4.65 $4.65
-33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.43 $17.43
$14.33 $14.33
21.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.69 $11.69
$14.88 $14.88
-21.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.5 $19.5
$19.34 $19.34
0.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.17 $5.17
-35.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.71 $1.71
-15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$4.41 $4.41
-51.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$4.51 $4.51
-27.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.53 $2.53
-32.41%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$2.74 $2.74
17.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.7 $2.7
-25.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.35 $8.35
$15.19 $15.19
-45.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.45 $9.45
$16.42 $16.42
-42.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.7 $3.7
-11.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.34 $3.34
4.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.42 $1.42
17.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.94 $28.94
$25.42 $25.42
13.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$188 $188
-15.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.38 $25.38
$63.7 $63.7
-60.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.1 $61.1
$65.2 $65.2
-6.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.71 $14.71
$76.7 $76.7
-80.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.01 $37.01
$13.03 $13.03
184.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.92 $6.92
$14.93 $14.93
-53.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$919 $919
$2,063 $2,063
-55.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-41.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.76 $41.76
$64.3 $64.3
-35.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$52.4 $52.4
-77.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 $123
$95.2 $95.2
29.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.58 $49.58
$145 $145
-65.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 $1,580
$2,378 $2,378
-33.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 $1,197
$1,584 $1,584
-24.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$4,763 $4,763
-44.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 $1,394
$2,815 $2,815
-50.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,764 $2,764
$3,588 $3,588
-22.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,330 $1,330
$2,490 $2,490
-46.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charlotte, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,525 $3,525
$5,275 $5,275
-33.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.6
3.33%

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

Last update for Charlotte, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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