Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Charlotte, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Charlotte, MI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 27% more expensive than Charlotte, MI without rent, and 34.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.5% more expensive than Charlotte, MI without rent, and 62.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.86 $18.86

10.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.8 $75.8

32.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.93 $10.93

9.52%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.18 $5.18

7.34%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.6 $2.6

19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.97 $1.97

22.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.84 $5.84

17.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.93 $6.93

21.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.07 $1.07

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.92 $3.92

5.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.25 $3.25

69.85%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.1 $3.1

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.43 $17.43

-17.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.69 $11.69

27.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.5 $19.5

-0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.34 $3.34

54.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.44 $1.44

18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.15 $2.15

105.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.27 $3.27

37.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.71 $1.71

47.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.22 $3.22

-14.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.02 $2.02

33.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.35 $8.35

81.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.45 $9.45

73.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.68 $1.68

39.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.29 $3.29

12.46%

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

$3.48 $3.48

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.67 $1.67

-14.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.94 $28.94

-12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.9K $29.9K

8.56%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.13%

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

$188 $188

$160 $160

17.68%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$25.38 $25.38

150.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.1 $61.1

6.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$14.71 $14.71

421.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$37.01 $37.01

-64.79%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$6.92 $6.92

115.75%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$919 $919

124.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

69.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$41.76 $41.76

54.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$12.03 $12.03

335.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$123 $123

-22.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$49.58 $49.58

191.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,580 $1,580

50.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,197 $1,197

32.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,648 $2,648

79.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,394 $1,394

101.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,764 $2,764

29.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,330 $1,330

87.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,525 $3,525

49.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.82

-3.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Charlotte, MI: October 29, 2025

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