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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $1,954 in Boone, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $2,711 in Boone, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $3,468 in Boone, NC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 58% more expensive than in Boone, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Boone, NC 46% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$12.05 $12.05

72.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$64.2 $64.2

53.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$9.60 $9.60

23.96%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.88 $4.88

19.67%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.73 $2.73

12.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.27 $2.27

3.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.49 $5.49

25.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.09 $7.09

13.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.00 $1.00

5.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.73 $3.73

6.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.54 $4.54

23.35%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.52 $2.52

80.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.53 $12.53

13.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$13.82 $13.82

7.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$10.78 $10.78

76.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$6.47 $6.47

-17.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.06 $2.06

-16.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.33 $4.33

-2.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.63 $3.63

20.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.21 $3.21

-20.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.23 $3.23

-13.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.79 $1.79

37.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$6.80 $6.80

119.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$13.24 $13.24

11.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.60 $1.60

48.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.05 $3.05

17.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.94 $1.94

25.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.55 $3.55

-5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.51 $1.51

-9.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$18.24 $18.24

38.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.82 $0.82

32.93%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$27.8K $27.8K

15.98%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.26%

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

$188 $188

$81.9 $81.9

129.69%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$44.21 $44.21

43.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$57.0 $57.0

16.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$70.7 $70.7

6.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

$49.07 $49.07

-73.10%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$11.77 $11.77

25.74%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,674 $1,674

25.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$9,949 $9,949

286.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$45.53 $45.53

42.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$45.19 $45.19

14.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$79.3 $79.3

21.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$44.34 $44.34

229.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,189 $1,189

96.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$933 $933

69.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,489 $1,489

220.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,064 $1,064

156.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$3,674 $3,674

9.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$3,675 $3,675

-26.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,964 $3,964

25.67%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Boone, NC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,189 in Boone, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 26% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $64.0 in Boone, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $385 per month, with Boone, NC cheaper across the board.

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 Boone, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Boone, NC differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $1,954 including rent). Boone, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 26% 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,189 in Boone, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $1,954 in Boone, NC – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,954 in Boone, NC versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Boone, NC but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Boone, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Boone, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.