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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.5% more expensive than Burlington, NC without rent, and 18.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.8% more expensive than Burlington, NC without rent, and 22.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$18.64 $18.64

10.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$75.1 $75.1

32.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$11.08 $11.08

10.29%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.13 $5.13

12.09%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.61 $2.61

13.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.94 $1.94

22.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.91 $5.91

18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.3 $8.3

$6.83 $6.83

21.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.01 $1.01

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.55 $3.55

12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.37 $4.37

25.40%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$4.23 $4.23

11.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$12.32 $12.32

14.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.15 $15.15

$11.6 $11.6

30.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.09 $19.09

$15.14 $15.14

26.09%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.99 $4.99

4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$4.37 $4.37

-0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.4 $4.4

$4.72 $4.72

-6.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.87 $2.87

-15.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.86 $2.86

-0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.1 $2.1

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.11 $2.11

21.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.82 $9.82

54.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$13.98 $13.98

9.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.82 $1.82

34.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$3.29 $3.29

10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.43 $3.43

-7.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.65 $1.65

-12.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.54 $24.54

$29.18 $29.18

-15.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.91 $0.91

14.29%

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

$32K $32K

$29.4K $29.4K

8.93%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.96%

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

$186 $186

0.18%

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

$62.7 $62.7

$52.6 $52.6

19.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66 $66

$68 $68

-2.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 $75.1

$43.18 $43.18

73.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$13.69 $13.69

9.20%

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

$2,046 $2,046

$1,324 $1,324

54.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.6K $23.6K

63.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.4 $50.4

28.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52 $52

$39.66 $39.66

31.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$86.3 $86.3

10.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$114 $114

25.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,330 $2,330

$1,623 $1,623

43.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 $1,591

$1,368 $1,368

16.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,654 $4,654

$2,591 $2,591

79.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,777 $2,777

$2,229 $2,229

24.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,674 $3,674

$2,766 $2,766

32.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,686 $2,686

$2,464 $2,464

9.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,293 $5,293

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 29, 2025

Last update for Burlington, NC: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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