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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.6% more expensive than Clayton, NC without rent, and 20.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.8% more expensive than Clayton, NC without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.78 $17.78

17.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.3 $75.3

33.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.9 $9.9

20.91%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.88 $4.88

13.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.39 $2.39

30.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.66 $5.66

21.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.14 $6.14

37.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.87 $3.87

7.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.14 $3.14

75.80%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.43 $4.43

4.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.78 $13.78

3.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.6 $11.6

28.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.69 $16.69

15.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.57 $5.57

-7.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.62 $1.62

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.63 $5.63

-21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.96 $3.96

13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.7 $3.7

-31.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.8 $1.8

35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.93 $1.93

39.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.22 $8.22

84.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.02 $14.02

17.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.14 $2.14

9.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.03 $3.03

22.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.44 $2.44

36.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.66 $1.66

-14.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$14.94 $14.94

70.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.52%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.43%

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

$188 $188

$138 $138

36.71%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55.6 $55.6

14.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.6 $69.6

-6.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.6 $42.6

80.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.02 $14.02

6.49%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,349 $1,349

52.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

63.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.56 $49.56

29.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$36.04 $36.04

45.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$99.9 $99.9

-4.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$139 $139

4.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,610 $1,610

47.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,337 $1,337

18.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,579 $2,579

84.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,190 $2,190

28.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,787 $2,787

28.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,136 $2,136

16.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

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 Clayton, NC: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States