Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cape Carteret, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cape Carteret, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 56.5% more expensive than Cape Carteret, NC without rent, and 22.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 47.8% more expensive than Cape Carteret, NC without rent, and 35% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.06 $20.06
3.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.25 $49.25
103.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.86 $11.86
0.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.86 $4.86
14.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.46 $1.46
113.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.46 $2.46
-1.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.96 $5.96
15.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.9 $6.9
22.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.62 $0.62
67.74%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.14 $3.14
32.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.48 $5.48
0.73%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.55 $3.55
30.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.48 $11.48
24.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.8 $6.8
118.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.05 $16.05
20.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.5 $2.5
106.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.48 $1.48
15.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.8 $2.8
57.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.27 $4.27
5.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.27 $2.27
11.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.19 $3.19
-14.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.7 $1.7
42.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.24 $2.24
20.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.16 $9.16
65.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$4.98 $4.98
229.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.81 $1.81
29.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.12 $2.12
74.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, 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
$4.76 $4.76
-29.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.67 $1.67
-14.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$20.35 $20.35
24.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.6K $34.6K
-6.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.7K $26.7K
-1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$167 $167
12.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.2 $49.2
29.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.4 $67.4
-3.24%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.1 $43.1
78.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.02 $10.02
49.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,639 $1,639
25.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.9K $15.9K
145.79%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$49.91 $49.91
28.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.67 $46.67
12.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.3 $87.3
9.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$45.33 $45.33
219.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,620 $1,620
46.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,357 $1,357
16.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,659 $2,659
79.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,185 $2,185
28.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,896 $2,896
23.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,716 $2,716
-8.32%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Cape Carteret, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,986 $2,986
76.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.58
0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cape Carteret, NC: October 28, 2025

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