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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 47.4% more expensive than Columbia, TN without rent, and 29.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 66.9% more expensive than Columbia, TN without rent, and 35.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$12.04 $12.04

72.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$60.1 $60.1

67.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.9 $9.9

20.91%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.85 $3.85

44.42%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.18 $2.18

42.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.65 $1.65

46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.07 $6.07

13.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.41 $7.41

14.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.96 $0.96

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.89 $2.89

43.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.64 $4.64

18.97%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.55 $2.55

82.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.21 $11.21

27.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.6 $6.6

125.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.11 $13.11

47.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.13 $6.13

-15.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.25 $1.25

36.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.19 $5.19

-15.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.9 $3.9

15.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.97 $4.97

-49.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.5 $3.5

-21.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.36 $2.36

2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.37 $2.37

13.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.76 $7.76

95.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.41 $14.41

13.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.72 $1.72

36.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.94 $1.94

90.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.96 $1.96

29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.97 $1.97

69.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.34 $1.34

5.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$20.2 $20.2

25.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.78 $0.78

38.46%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$33.4K $33.4K

-2.98%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27K $27K

-2.77%

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

$188 $188

$153 $153

23.19%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59 $59

7.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.1 $66.1

-1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$35.1 $35.1

118.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.16 $12.16

22.78%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$602 $602

242.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$27.2K $27.2K

44.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$40.06 $40.06

60.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$31.98 $31.98

63.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$73.9 $73.9

28.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$89.4 $89.4

61.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,347 $1,347

76.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,229 $1,229

28.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,531 $2,531

88.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,339 $2,339

20.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,574 $2,574

39.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,507 $2,507

-0.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,466 $2,466

113.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Columbia, TN: October 28, 2025

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