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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,441 in Cape Carteret, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,545 in Cape Carteret, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,650 in Cape Carteret, NC, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Cape Carteret, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Cape Carteret, NC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Cape Carteret, NC by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$20.33 $20.33

2.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$49.72 $49.72

98.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$12.19 $12.19

-2.38%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.95 $4.95

17.98%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$1.52 $1.52

101.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.49 $2.49

-5.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.06 $6.06

13.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.96 $6.96

15.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.58 $0.58

81.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.04 $3.04

30.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.27 $5.27

6.26%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.58 $3.58

27.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$11.66 $11.66

21.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$6.84 $6.84

117.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.67 $15.67

21.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.50 $2.50

112.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.48 $1.48

15.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.81 $2.81

50.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.35 $4.35

0.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.22 $2.22

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.13 $3.13

-10.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.77 $1.77

39.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.36 $2.36

14.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.25 $9.25

61.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$11.86 $11.86

24.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.77 $1.77

33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.14 $2.14

66.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.95 $1.95

25.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.64 $4.64

-27.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.67 $1.67

-17.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$20.04 $20.04

26.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$34.4K $34.4K

-6.06%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.3K $27.3K

-3.23%

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

$188 $188

$169 $169

11.46%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$47.88 $47.88

32.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$67.3 $67.3

-1.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.61 $42.61

77.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$10.17 $10.17

45.53%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,637 $1,637

28.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$15.9K $15.9K

141.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.2 $50.2

29.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$46.21 $46.21

11.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$85.8 $85.8

12.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$45.08 $45.08

224.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,589 $1,589

46.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,343 $1,343

17.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,578 $2,578

85.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,239 $2,239

21.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,949 $2,949

36.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,709 $2,709

-0.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Cape Carteret, NC: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,589 in Cape Carteret, 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 $50.0 in Cape Carteret, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $327 – making Cape Carteret, 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 Cape Carteret, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,661 in Cape Carteret, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Carteret, 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 $2,441 in Cape Carteret, 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 $1,637 in Cape Carteret, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Cape Carteret, NC, where all-in costs run around $2,441, than in Chicago, IL at $3,084. In Cape Carteret, NC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cape Carteret, NC – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cape Carteret, 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.