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 39.7% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC without rent, and 16% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.5% more expensive than Chapel Hill, NC without rent, and 14.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$15.11 $15.11

35.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$79.0 $79.0

28.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$10.20 $10.20

17.94%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.38 $4.38

28.31%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.44 $2.44

25.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.89 $1.89

28.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.13 $6.13

13.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$7.06 $7.06

14.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.99 $3.99

-1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.39 $4.39

25.74%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.57 $4.57

-0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$16.79 $16.79

-13.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.53 $14.53

2.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$12.11 $12.11

55.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.64 $5.64

-5.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.49 $1.49

18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.90 $5.90

-25.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.92 $3.92

11.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.82 $2.82

-9.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.74 $2.74

1.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.73 $1.73

42.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.63 $1.63

63.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$6.97 $6.97

111.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$12.03 $12.03

26.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.69 $1.69

44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.31 $2.31

59.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.92 $2.92

12.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.85 $1.85

-22.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$30.44 $30.44

-18.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$28.8K $28.8K

8.64%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

9.72%

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

$187 $187

$142 $142

31.50%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$56.1 $56.1

11.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$73.5 $73.5

-8.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.65 $42.65

76.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$9.94 $9.94

53.02%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,324 $1,324

54.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$24.3K $24.3K

62.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$48.27 $48.27

32.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$29.89 $29.89

69.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$88.4 $88.4

7.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$82.9 $82.9

73.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,346 $1,346

74.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,461 $1,461

10.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$3,455 $3,455

36.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$2,672 $2,672

3.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$2,655 $2,655

43.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$2,695 $2,695

-4.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$4,880 $4,880

-2.92%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Chapel Hill, NC: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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