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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,520 in Burnsville, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,660 in Burnsville, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,800 in Burnsville, NC, rent included.

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

Both Chicago, IL and Burnsville, NC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Burnsville, NC by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$18.08 $18.08

14.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$30.30 $30.30

231.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.19 $10.19

16.39%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.99 $4.99

11.02%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.06 $1.06

188.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.96 $0.96

158.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.83 $5.83

18.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$3.60 $3.60

125.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.00 $1.00

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.93 $3.93

-0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.20 $4.20

29.05%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.46 $4.46

0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$16.74 $16.74

-13.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$16.35 $16.35

-6.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$16.79 $16.79

14.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.81 $5.81

-7.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.60 $1.60

5.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$6.56 $6.56

-34.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.95 $3.95

14.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.66 $3.66

-30.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.71 $2.71

-0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.71 $1.71

40.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.93 $1.93

35.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.07 $8.07

86.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.88 $14.88

-1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.12 $2.12

16.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.18 $3.18

16.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.99 $1.99

28.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.99 $2.99

10.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.38 $2.38

-39.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.72 $29.72

-16.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$34.3K $34.3K

-7.54%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.06%

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

$183 $183

$113 $113

61.73%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$53.8 $53.8

14.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$72.8 $72.8

-10.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.47 $43.47

75.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$13.90 $13.90

6.12%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,328 $1,328

54.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

57.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$48.45 $48.45

31.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$35.80 $35.80

44.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$106 $106

-7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$156 $156

-5.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,609 $1,609

46.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,342 $1,342

17.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,633 $2,633

78.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,184 $2,184

24.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,301 $2,301

72.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,226 $2,226

18.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Burnsville, NC: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,609 in Burnsville, 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $30 in Burnsville, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $444 – making Burnsville, 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 Burnsville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Burnsville, NC, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,780 in Burnsville, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Burnsville, 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 $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,520 in Burnsville, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,056 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,328 in Burnsville, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,520 in Burnsville, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Burnsville, NC costs $2,520 versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Burnsville, 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.