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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8% more expensive than Jacksonville, NC without rent, and 17.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.9% more expensive than Jacksonville, NC without rent, and 48.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.34 $18.34
13.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$54.7 $54.7
83.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.89 $9.89
21.03%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.65 $4.65
19.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.44 $2.44
27.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.79 $1.79
35.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.97 $4.97
38.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.49 $6.49
30.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.87 $0.87
19.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.16 $2.16
92.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.3 $4.3
28.37%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.55 $4.55
2.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.06 $12.06
18.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.44 $14.44
3.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$27.79 $27.79
-30.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.14 $2.14
141.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.46 $1.46
17.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.93 $4.93
-10.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.57 $3.57
26.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$7.47 $7.47
-66.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.67 $3.67
-25.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.41 $3.41
-28.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.99 $1.99
35.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.69 $10.69
42.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.24 $12.24
34.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 $1.72
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$7.05 $7.05
-47.52%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.57 $2.57
29.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.37 $2.37
-40.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.39 $29.39
-13.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.2K $28.2K
14.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.2K $27.2K
-3.77%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$171 $171
9.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.1 $56.1
13.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$78.9 $78.9
-17.36%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$36.98 $36.98
107.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.23 $14.23
4.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$906 $906
127.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.6K $23.6K
66.05%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$30.57 $30.57
110.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.26 $39.26
33.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$80.2 $80.2
18.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$74.2 $74.2
94.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,177 $1,177
102.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,364 $1,364
16.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,617 $1,617
194.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,513 $1,513
86.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,924 $1,924
86.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$6,727 $6,727
-62.98%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,677 $2,677
97.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.33
4.27%

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 Jacksonville, NC: October 27, 2025

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