Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,122 in Franklin, TN, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Franklin, TN outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Franklin, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$3,122

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Franklin, 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 Franklin, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,122 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Franklin, TN $3,122

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,506 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Franklin, TN $4,506

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,889 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Franklin, TN $5,889

Chicago, IL is about 3% cheaper than Franklin, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Franklin, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Franklin, TN by 129%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$28.12 $28.12

-26.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$87.3 $87.3

2.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.90 $11.90

10.84%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$7.33 $7.33

-22.78%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.37 $3.37

-21.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.29 $2.29

-0.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.55 $7.55

-9.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.07 $8.07

9.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.31 $1.31

-4.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.81 $3.81

-2.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.71 $5.71

-16.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$15.47 $15.47

-10.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$17.84 $17.84

-19.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.94 $3.94

32.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.93 $1.93

2.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.97 $1.97

35.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.13 $2.13

24.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.47 $2.47

-9.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.46 $9.46

46.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.87 $12.87

15.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$0.98 $0.98

147.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$61.0 $61.0

20.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.87 $0.87

37.93%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.1K $28.1K

24.71%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.2K $27.2K

-1.97%

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

$194 $194

$214 $214

-8.94%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$116 $116

-40.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$90.5 $90.5

-31.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$58.6 $58.6

-18.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$16.06 $16.06

10.90%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$397 $397

351.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$98.6 $98.6

-32.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$63.7 $63.7

-18.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$75.6 $75.6

34.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$112 $112

28.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,924 $1,924

31.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,677 $1,677

-5.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,203 $3,203

47.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,711 $2,711

-0.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,526 $3,526

18.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,932 $2,932

-5.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$6,239 $6,239

-20.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.59

3.34%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Franklin, TN: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Franklin, TN

–

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Franklin, TN

–

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Franklin, TN

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Franklin, TN

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Franklin, TN

–

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Franklin, TN

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Franklin, TN

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,924 in Franklin, 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 27% higher in Franklin, TN. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $87 in Franklin, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $287 – making Franklin, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Franklin, TN

🕒 Local time

02:31 2:31 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

83,454

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Franklin, TN 660 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Franklin, 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 Franklin, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,122 in Franklin, TN – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,683 in Franklin, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Franklin, TN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,924 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Franklin, TN. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Franklin, TN – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,122 in Franklin, TN. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chicago, IL costs $3,037 versus $3,122 in Franklin, TN. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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