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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39% more expensive than Fayetteville, NC without rent, and 6.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 60.1% more expensive than Fayetteville, NC without rent, and 54.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.1 $15.1
37.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$61.2 $61.2
64.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.92 $10.92
9.62%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.94 $4.94
12.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.16 $2.16
43.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.74 $1.74
39.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.12 $4.12
66.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.49 $6.49
30.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.96 $0.96
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.28 $3.28
26.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3 $3
84.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.47 $3.47
34.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.36 $8.36
71.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.54 $8.54
74.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.92 $11.92
62.25%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.16 $4.16
24.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.23 $2.23
-23.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.85 $4.85
-9.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.7 $4.7
-4.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.46 $2.46
2.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.89 $1.89
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.76 $1.76
53.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.61 $7.61
99.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.35 $12.35
32.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.52 $1.52
143.42%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.06 $2.06
22.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.03 $2.03
64.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.9 $1.9
-25.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$49.75 $49.75
-48.90%
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
$29.9K $29.9K
8.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.73%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$148 $148
26.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$75.8 $75.8
-16.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.3 $72.3
-9.76%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$23.52 $23.52
226.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$40.03 $40.03
-67.45%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.06 $12.06
23.80%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$899 $899
129.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
56.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$53.2 $53.2
20.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.73 $39.73
31.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$63.2 $63.2
50.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$88.3 $88.3
63.81%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,503 $1,503
58.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,774 $1,774
-10.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,771 $1,771
168.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,657 $1,657
69.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,692 $1,692
112.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,554 $1,554
60.29%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,097 $3,097
70.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fayetteville, NC: October 29, 2025

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