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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.9% more expensive than Boone, NC without rent, and 55.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 56.9% more expensive than Boone, NC without rent, and 79.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.22 $12.22
70.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$63.8 $63.8
57.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.48 $9.48
26.27%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.83 $4.83
15.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.7 $2.7
15.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.29 $2.29
5.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.39 $5.39
27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.03 $7.03
20.20%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.96 $0.96
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.75 $3.75
10.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.45 $4.45
24.04%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.44 $2.44
90.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.64 $12.64
13.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.8 $13.8
7.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.9 $10.9
77.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.36 $6.36
-18.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2 $2
-14.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.42 $4.42
-0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.48 $3.48
29.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.26 $3.26
-22.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.19 $3.19
-14.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.8 $1.8
35.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.17 $2.17
24.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.9 $6.9
120.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.13 $13.13
25.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.66 $1.66
41.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.05 $3.05
21.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.98 $1.98
27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.46 $3.46
-3.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.53 $1.53
-7.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$17.92 $17.92
41.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.2K $28.2K
14.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$80.1 $80.1
135.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.2 $44.2
44.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$57.5 $57.5
13.43%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$69.7 $69.7
10.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$50.7 $50.7
-74.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.99 $11.99
24.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,682 $1,682
22.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.2K $10.2K
284.68%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.75 $46.75
37.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.24 $46.24
13.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$79.3 $79.3
20.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$45.74 $45.74
216.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,161 $1,161
104.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$921 $921
72.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,519 $1,519
213.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,062 $1,062
165.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,820 $3,820
-6.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,792 $3,792
-34.33%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Boone, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,019 $4,019
31.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Boone, NC: October 28, 2025

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