Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Fayetteville, NC: $2,242 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
107

Cost of Living Index in Fayetteville, NC
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Fayetteville, NC Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Fayetteville, NC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,242

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Fayetteville, NC

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 Fayetteville, NC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,242 in Fayetteville, NC, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Fayetteville, NC $2,242

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,169 in Fayetteville, NC, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Fayetteville, NC $3,169

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,097 in Fayetteville, NC, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Fayetteville, NC $4,097

Chicago, IL costs about 37% more than Fayetteville, NC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Fayetteville, NC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Fayetteville, NC by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$18.60 $18.60

9.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$60.9 $60.9

45.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$12.03 $12.03

6.82%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.84 $4.84

19.42%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.22 $2.22

23.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.69 $1.69

33.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.15 $5.15

33.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.31 $6.31

46.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.87 $0.87

44.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.77 $3.77

-5.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.29 $3.29

63.53%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.73 $3.73

21.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$10.26 $10.26

33.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$8.63 $8.63

63.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$16.91 $16.91

6.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.04 $4.04

27.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.25 $2.25

-12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.03 $4.03

-3.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.47 $4.47

8.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.34 $2.34

20.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.20 $3.20

-16.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.80 $1.80

15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.04 $2.04

48.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$8.70 $8.70

59.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$12.35 $12.35

21.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.61 $1.61

63.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.06 $3.06

12.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.27 $1.27

91.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$40.48 $40.48

86.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.70 $3.70

-14.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.76 $1.76

-3.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$23.62 $23.62

5.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.99 $0.99

29.29%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.0K $27.0K

32.48%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.91%

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

$192 $192

$180 $180

6.65%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$70.6 $70.6

-1.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$64.0 $64.0

-2.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$17.88 $17.88

167.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$39.88 $39.88

-32.05%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$13.10 $13.10

36.11%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$759 $759

139.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$14.6K $14.6K

178.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$50.6 $50.6

30.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$37.15 $37.15

38.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$71.2 $71.2

45.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$117 $117

22.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,337 $1,337

89.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,048 $1,048

54.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,252 $2,252

114.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,463 $1,463

86.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$1,861 $1,861

123.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$1,441 $1,441

88.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,053 $3,053

61.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.36

6.60%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, NC: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Fayetteville, NC

$1K 46.8% 35.3% $573

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Fayetteville, NC

$355 15.9% 19.1% $84

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Fayetteville, NC

$297 13.3% 13.7% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Fayetteville, NC

$315 14% 2.8% $9.2

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Fayetteville, NC

$124 5.5% 24.2% $40

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Fayetteville, NC

$58 2.6% 40% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Fayetteville, NC

$44 2% 47.2% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,337 in Fayetteville, NC. 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 61% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $61 in Fayetteville, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $355 – making Fayetteville, NC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Fayetteville, NC

🕒 Local time

17:43 5:43 PM

18:43 6:43 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

93,949

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Fayetteville, NC 1,070 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Fayetteville, NC

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 Fayetteville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,242 in Fayetteville, NC – Fayetteville, NC comes out roughly 27% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,362 in Fayetteville, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fayetteville, NC, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,337 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $61 in Fayetteville, NC. 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 $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,242 in Fayetteville, NC. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Fayetteville, NC – 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 Fayetteville, NC. 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.