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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.4% more expensive than Gastonia, NC without rent, and 39.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.2% more expensive than Gastonia, NC without rent, and 25.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.09 $18.09

15.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.4 $50.4

99.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$5.76 $5.76

107.81%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.82 $3.82

45.55%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.34 $2.34

32.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.94 $1.94

24.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.47 $4.47

53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.29 $5.29

59.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.83 $0.83

25.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.64 $2.64

57.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.9 $2.9

90.34%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.68 $3.68

26.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.49 $9.49

51.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.05 $13.05

14.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.95 $17.95

7.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.56 $4.56

13.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.68 $1.68

1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.04 $5.04

-12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.2 $3.2

40.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.22 $3.22

-21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.29 $4.29

-36.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.67 $1.67

61.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.37 $8.37

81.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.96 $14.96

9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.72 $2.72

36.03%

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

$2.03 $2.03

64.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.38 $2.38

-40.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$18.11 $18.11

40.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.06%

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

$188 $188

$225 $225

-16.17%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.8 $53.8

18.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.2 $60.2

8.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$27.96 $27.96

174.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.27 $12.27

21.68%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,434 $1,434

43.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$12.2K $12.2K

220.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$34.68 $34.68

85.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.62 $34.62

51.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$70 $70

35.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$98.1 $98.1

47.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,251 $1,251

90.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,032 $1,032

53.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,124 $3,124

52.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,656 $2,656

5.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,340 $2,340

53.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,312 $2,312

7.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,088 $4,088

29.05%

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 Gastonia, NC: October 28, 2025

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