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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,544 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,692 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,841 in Burlington, NC, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Burlington, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Burlington, NC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Burlington, NC by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.30 $19.30

7.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$73.6 $73.6

33.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.14 $11.14

6.82%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.17 $5.17

12.96%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.61 $2.61

17.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.02 $2.02

16.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.08 $6.08

12.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.12 $7.12

13.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.43 $3.43

16.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.28 $4.28

30.84%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.08 $4.08

11.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.30 $12.30

15.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.25 $11.25

32.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.41 $15.41

23.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.00 $5.00

6.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.64 $1.64

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.14 $4.14

2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.77 $4.77

-8.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.77 $2.77

-7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.11 $2.11

27.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.63 $9.63

55.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.17 $14.17

3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.79 $1.79

32.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.42 $3.42

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.98 $1.98

23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.59 $3.59

-6.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.57 $1.57

-12.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.70 $29.70

-14.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

9.90%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.19%

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

$188 $188

$184 $184

2.09%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$52.5 $52.5

20.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$67.2 $67.2

-1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.13 $43.13

75.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.44 $13.44

10.12%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,323 $1,323

58.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.6K $23.6K

63.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.1 $50.1

29.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.63 $40.63

26.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$88.0 $88.0

9.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$110 $110

32.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,621 $1,621

43.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,328 $1,328

18.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,665 $2,665

79.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,257 $2,257

20.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,788 $2,788

44.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,406 $2,406

11.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Burlington, NC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,621 in Burlington, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Burlington, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $384 – making Burlington, NC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Burlington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,544 in Burlington, NC – roughly 21% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,816 in Burlington, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burlington, NC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,544 in Burlington, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,097 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,323 in Burlington, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,544 in Burlington, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,544 in Burlington, NC to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Burlington, NC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.