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: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $3,081 in Asheville, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $4,690 in Asheville, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $6,299 in Asheville, NC.

Monthly costs are close between Chicago, IL and Asheville, NC; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Asheville, NC 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$21.94 $21.94

-8.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$102 $102

-2.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.85 $9.85

24.16%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.74 $5.74

-2.44%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.55 $2.55

22.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$7.31 $7.31

-5.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$9.45 $9.45

-13.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.99 $0.99

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.36 $4.36

-8.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.20 $4.20

32.86%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.58 $3.58

24.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.76 $13.76

5.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.43 $13.43

12.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.97 $15.97

21.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.51 $4.51

19.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.64 $1.64

7.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.76 $3.76

14.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.79 $4.79

-7.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.71 $2.71

-6.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.46 $3.46

-21.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.26 $2.26

10.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.16 $2.16

20.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$7.30 $7.30

102.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.88 $14.88

2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.83 $1.83

34.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.76 $4.76

-24.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.65 $1.65

53.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$50.7 $50.7

50.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.56 $4.56

-27.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$3.04 $3.04

-54.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$41.69 $41.69

-39.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$33.7K $33.7K

-6.22%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.4K $24.4K

9.02%

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

$186 $186

$174 $174

6.99%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$65.5 $65.5

-4.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$98.5 $98.5

-32.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$43.05 $43.05

80.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$28.51 $28.51

-53.84%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$13.10 $13.10

12.52%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$2,577 $2,577

-20.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$25.8K $25.8K

54.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$58.2 $58.2

9.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$49.44 $49.44

3.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$121 $121

-21.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$159 $159

-9.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,078 $2,078

10.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,652 $1,652

-4.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$4,016 $4,016

16.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,957 $2,957

-7.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$4,192 $4,192

-3.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$3,195 $3,195

-15.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,621 $3,621

38.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.47

2.01%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Asheville, NC: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $2,078 in Asheville, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 39% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $102 in Asheville, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $448 vs $411, 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

Average pay runs 39% 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $2,078 in Asheville, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 50% less than in Asheville, NC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Shoppers in Asheville, NC pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL 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.

It comes down to priorities – Chicago, IL wins on affordability, Asheville, NC on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.