Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chapel Hill, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chapel Hill, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 29.4% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.7% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.26 $15.26

36.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.2 $81.2

23.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.97 $9.97

20.06%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.31 $4.31

29.00%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.52 $2.52

23.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.87 $1.87

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.93 $5.93

15.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.17 $7.17

17.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.89 $0.89

16.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.13 $4.13

0.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.36 $4.36

26.61%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.62 $4.62

0.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.09 $17.09

-16.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.39 $14.39

3.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.96 $11.96

61.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.71 $5.71

-9.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.88 $5.88

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.91 $3.91

15.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.71 $2.71

-6.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.74 $1.74

39.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.66 $1.66

62.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.08 $7.08

114.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.47 $13.47

21.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.31 $2.31

60.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.97 $2.97

12.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.88 $1.88

-24.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.84 $29.84

-14.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.4K $28.4K

14.19%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.62%

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

$188 $188

$138 $138

36.59%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55.8 $55.8

14.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71.9 $71.9

-9.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.32 $42.32

81.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.02 $10.02

49.00%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,346 $1,346

53.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

59.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.96 $49.96

28.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$30.14 $30.14

73.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.3 $86.3

10.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$83.2 $83.2

73.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,317 $1,317

80.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,501 $1,501

5.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,475 $3,475

37.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,618 $2,618

7.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,736 $2,736

31.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,686 $2,686

-7.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,903 $4,903

7.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: October 28, 2025

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