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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,882 in Cary, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $4,186 in Cary, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $5,490 in Cary, NC.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 8% more expensive than in Cary, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Cary, NC 111% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.58 $19.58

1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$99.6 $99.6

-11.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.59 $10.59

22.19%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.11 $5.11

8.41%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.04 $2.04

34.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.93 $1.93

22.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.39 $4.39

62.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$6.36 $6.36

37.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.69 $5.69

-26.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.04 $6.04

-5.13%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.18 $4.18

16.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$18.15 $18.15

-18.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.78 $16.78

-11.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$17.85 $17.85

9.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$6.20 $6.20

-10.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.87 $1.87

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.74 $3.74

11.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.76 $6.76

-28.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.22 $3.22

-11.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.15 $4.15

-32.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.88 $2.88

-23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.49 $2.49

22.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$10.08 $10.08

60.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$10.26 $10.26

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.27 $2.27

11.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.89 $3.89

-13.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.54 $2.54

0.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$80.0 $80.0

-5.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.81 $0.81

44.44%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$28.3K $28.3K

-7.30%

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

$191 $191

$183 $183

4.41%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$46.87 $46.87

44.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$68.8 $68.8

-10.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$76.1 $76.1

-16.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$21.67 $21.67

25.24%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.11 $15.11

19.26%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,474 $1,474

3.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$65.7 $65.7

-3.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$33.08 $33.08

67.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$116 $116

-13.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$138 $138

10.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,881 $1,881

27.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,381 $1,381

19.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,689 $2,689

70.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,171 $2,171

27.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,896 $2,896

39.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,676 $2,676

2.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$5,860 $5,860

-18.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.13

4.08%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cary, NC: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,881 in Cary, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cary, NC pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $100 in Cary, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $490 per month, with Chicago, IL cheaper across the board.

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 Cary, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cary, NC is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Cary, NC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,881 in Cary, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,522 in Chicago, IL versus $1,474 in Cary, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Cary, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Cary, NC is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cary, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.