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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.8% more expensive than Charlotte, NC without rent, and 2.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.6% more expensive than Charlotte, NC without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.34 $18.34

13.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.6 $81.6

23.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.18 $10.18

17.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.84 $4.84

14.88%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.53 $2.53

22.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.94 $5.94

15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.63 $7.63

10.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.89 $3.89

6.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.18 $4.18

32.06%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.79 $16.79

-14.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.89 $16.89

-11.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.22 $17.22

12.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.84 $5.84

-11.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.59 $1.59

7.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.58 $6.58

-32.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.07 $4.07

10.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.68 $3.68

-31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.73 $2.73

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.73 $1.73

40.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.95 $1.95

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.83 $7.83

94.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.23 $15.23

7.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.09 $2.09

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.22 $3.22

14.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$87.4 $87.4

-15.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.93 $2.93

13.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.84 $1.84

-22.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.61 $29.61

-14.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.81 $0.81

33.33%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34K $34K

-4.74%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.80%

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

$188 $188

$139 $139

35.04%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55.6 $55.6

14.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.4 $73.4

-11.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$52 $52

47.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$18.23 $18.23

-28.52%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.94 $13.94

7.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,306 $1,306

57.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

55.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$48.27 $48.27

33.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$36.65 $36.65

42.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$102 $102

-6.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$158 $158

-8.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,873 $1,873

26.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,530 $1,530

3.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,666 $3,666

29.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,482 $2,482

13.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,681 $3,681

-2.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,627 $2,627

-5.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,315 $4,315

22.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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, NC: October 29, 2025

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