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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $3,036 in Asheville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $4,364 in Asheville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $5,693 in Asheville, NC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 5% more expensive than in Asheville, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Asheville, NC 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$22.14 $22.14

-8.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$99.6 $99.6

-10.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$10.15 $10.15

29.66%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.81 $5.81

-0.69%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.59 $2.59

1.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.99 $1.99

17.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.66 $7.66

-7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$9.22 $9.22

-0.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.19 $1.19

9.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.45 $4.45

-8.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.33 $4.33

31.41%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.11 $4.11

18.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$16.60 $16.60

-9.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.60 $13.60

9.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.42 $15.42

25.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.10 $4.10

38.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.49 $1.49

29.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.01 $4.01

2.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.71 $4.71

8.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.37 $2.37

23.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.93 $2.93

-5.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.43 $2.43

-5.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.44 $2.44

24.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$7.91 $7.91

101.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.81 $14.81

1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.73 $1.73

46.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$5.28 $5.28

-34.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$79.3 $79.3

-5.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.43 $4.43

-25.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$3.04 $3.04

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$34.71 $34.71

-35.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.84 $0.84

45.24%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$31.8K $31.8K

13.47%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

3.69%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.71%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$59.5 $59.5

15.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$111 $111

-42.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$37.29 $37.29

70.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$18.98 $18.98

42.83%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$12.78 $12.78

40.06%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$2,539 $2,539

-39.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$54.7K $54.7K

-41.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$76.1 $76.1

-18.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$49.82 $49.82

13.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$114 $114

-11.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$157 $157

-0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$2,058 $2,058

13.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,562 $1,562

8.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$3,128 $3,128

46.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,329 $2,329

20.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$4,222 $4,222

-2.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$3,162 $3,162

-13.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$3,673 $3,673

33.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.01

6.16%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Asheville, NC: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $2,058 in Asheville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 33% 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: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $100 in Asheville, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $465 vs $424, with Asheville, NC cheaper for home cooking.

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

Chicago, IL vs Asheville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Asheville, NC differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($3,184 vs $3,036 including rent). Asheville, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $2,058 in Asheville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Asheville, NC runs roughly 6% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,539 in Asheville, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Asheville, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Asheville, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.