Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cleveland, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Cleveland, TN: $2,168 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
105

Cost of Living Index in Cleveland, TN
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Cleveland, TN Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Cleveland, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,168

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Cleveland, TN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Cleveland, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,168 in Cleveland, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Cleveland, TN $2,168

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,263 in Cleveland, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Cleveland, TN $3,263

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,359 in Cleveland, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Cleveland, TN $4,359

Chicago, IL costs about 40% more than Cleveland, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Cleveland, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Cleveland, TN by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$11.33 $11.33

82.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$38.11 $38.11

134.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.89 $9.89

33.37%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.87 $4.87

16.22%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.42 $2.42

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.64 $1.64

39.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.83 $5.83

17.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$7.34 $7.34

20.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.80 $0.80

56.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.26 $2.26

64.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.72 $2.72

98.16%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.53 $2.53

87.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$8.67 $8.67

59.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$5.65 $5.65

154.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$10.47 $10.47

75.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.82 $3.82

36.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.35 $1.35

46.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.46 $3.46

17.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.02 $3.02

64.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.49 $1.49

79.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.31 $2.31

15.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.22 $2.22

0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.82 $1.82

71.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$7.72 $7.72

79.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.07 $14.07

5.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.73 $1.73

46.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.20 $3.20

9.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.94 $1.94

25.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$93.2 $93.2

-21.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.08 $2.08

52.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.92 $1.92

-27.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$31.86 $31.86

-21.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.97 $0.97

23.71%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

34.80%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.3K $25.3K

5.53%

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

$194 $194

$170 $170

14.51%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$66.1 $66.1

5.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$46.46 $46.46

32.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$24.66 $24.66

94.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$9.89 $9.89

80.08%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,568 $1,568

14.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$8,544 $8,544

273.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$33.25 $33.25

101.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$53.0 $53.0

-1.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$87.8 $87.8

15.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$91.3 $91.3

57.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,600 $1,600

57.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,093 $1,093

44.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,430 $2,430

95.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,145 $2,145

25.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,228 $2,228

88.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,194 $2,194

26.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,647 $3,647

35.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

5.82

17.01%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cleveland, TN: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Cleveland, TN

$1.1K 50.5% 30.7% $485

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Cleveland, TN

$276 12.8% 38.2% $171

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Cleveland, TN

$239 11% 30.8% $106

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Cleveland, TN

$282 13% 13.3% $43

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Cleveland, TN

$119 5.5% 27.2% $45

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Cleveland, TN

$113 5.2% 20.6% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Cleveland, TN

$44 2.1% 46.8% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Cleveland, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $38 in Cleveland, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $276 – making Cleveland, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Cleveland, TN

🕒 Local time

05:39 5:39 AM

06:39 6:39 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

367,991

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Cleveland, TN 780 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Cleveland, TN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cleveland, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,168 in Cleveland, TN – Cleveland, TN comes out roughly 29% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,251 in Cleveland, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cleveland, TN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,600 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $38 in Cleveland, TN. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,168 in Cleveland, TN. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Cleveland, TN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cleveland, TN. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.