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

🙂 Solo nomad: Charlotte, NC is 4.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Charlotte, NC is 5.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.34 $18.34

$20.82 $20.82

-11.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 $81.6

$100 $100

-18.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 $10.18

$11.97 $11.97

-14.95%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$5.56 $5.56

-12.95%

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

$2.53 $2.53

$3.11 $3.11

-18.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$6.86 $6.86

-13.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$8.45 $8.45

-9.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.15 $4.15

-6.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.52 $5.52

-24.28%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.79 $16.79

$14.33 $14.33

17.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.89 $16.89

$14.88 $14.88

13.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.22 $17.22

$19.34 $19.34

-10.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.17 $5.17

12.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.71 $1.71

-7.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$4.41 $4.41

49.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.51 $4.51

-9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.53 $2.53

45.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.74 $2.74

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.43 $2.43

-28.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.7 $2.7

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.83 $7.83

$15.19 $15.19

-48.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$16.42 $16.42

-7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.35 $2.35

-11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.7 $3.7

-12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.4 $87.4

$74.1 $74.1

17.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.34 $3.34

-12.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.42 $1.42

29.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.61 $29.61

$25.42 $25.42

16.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.08 $1.08

-25.00%

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

$34K $34K

$32.4K $32.4K

4.98%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.37%

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

$139 $139

$188 $188

-25.95%

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

$55.6 $55.6

$63.7 $63.7

-12.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$65.2 $65.2

12.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52 $52

$76.7 $76.7

-32.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.23 $18.23

$13.03 $13.03

39.91%

Cinema Ticket

$13.94 $13.94

$14.93 $14.93

-6.63%

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

$1,306 $1,306

$2,063 $2,063

-36.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.1K $25.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-35.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.27 $48.27

$64.3 $64.3

-24.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.65 $36.65

$52.4 $52.4

-30.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$95.2 $95.2

6.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$158 $158

$145 $145

9.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,873 $1,873

$2,378 $2,378

-21.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,530 $1,530

$1,584 $1,584

-3.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,666 $3,666

$4,763 $4,763

-23.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,482 $2,482

$2,815 $2,815

-11.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,681 $3,681

$3,588 $3,588

2.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,627 $2,627

$2,490 $2,490

5.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,315 $4,315

$5,275 $5,275

-18.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Charlotte, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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