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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.8% more expensive than Durham, NC without rent, and 14.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.6% more expensive than Durham, NC without rent, and 28.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.14 $15.14

37.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$70.9 $70.9

41.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.95 $9.95

20.30%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.6 $4.6

20.87%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.15 $2.15

44.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.83 $1.83

32.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.11 $5.11

34.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.53 $6.53

29.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.86 $0.86

20.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.8 $3.8

9.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.68 $3.68

50.00%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.41 $4.41

5.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.23 $9.23

55.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.48 $12.48

19.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.72 $15.72

23.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.53 $5.53

-6.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.18 $1.18

44.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.74 $3.74

17.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.43 $3.43

31.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.57 $2.57

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.81 $2.81

-2.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.9 $1.9

27.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.92 $1.92

40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.15 $10.15

49.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.17 $15.17

8.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.22 $4.22

-12.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$25.24 $25.24

193.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.02 $2.02

65.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.52 $1.52

-6.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.79 $22.79

11.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.5K $28.5K

13.59%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

0.18%

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

$188 $188

$162 $162

15.84%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.6 $53.6

18.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$75.3 $75.3

-13.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$40.25 $40.25

90.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.15 $12.15

22.88%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,288 $1,288

60.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$31.2K $31.2K

25.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$52.2 $52.2

23.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.49 $34.49

51.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$79.5 $79.5

19.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

22.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,875 $1,875

26.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,425 $1,425

11.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,525 $2,525

88.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,308 $2,308

21.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,823 $2,823

27.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,665 $2,665

-6.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,429 $4,429

19.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Durham, NC: October 27, 2025

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