Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Johnson City, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Johnson City, TN

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30% more expensive than Johnson City, TN without rent, and 44.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.7% more expensive than Johnson City, TN without rent, and 54.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.98 $12.98
60.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.01 $49.01
104.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.18 $12.18
-1.72%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.81 $3.81
45.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.12 $2.12
46.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.71 $1.71
41.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.13 $5.13
33.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.13 $6.13
37.85%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.97 $0.97
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.85 $3.85
7.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.05 $3.05
80.98%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.15 $3.15
47.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.51 $7.51
90.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.48 $8.48
75.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.78 $12.78
51.33%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.07 $4.07
27.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.54 $1.54
11.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.05 $4.05
8.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.68 $3.68
22.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.38 $2.38
6.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.62 $3.62
-24.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.84 $1.84
32.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.21 $2.21
22.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.7 $7.7
97.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.47 $9.47
73.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.7 $1.7
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.99 $3.99
-7.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.44 $2.44
3.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$37.19 $37.19
99.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.65 $5.65
-40.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.43 $1.43
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$65.3 $65.3
-61.05%
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
$29.5K $29.5K
10.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$21.9K $21.9K
19.77%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$149 $149
26.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$74.4 $74.4
-14.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$52.5 $52.5
24.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$45.87 $45.87
67.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.79 $19.79
-34.16%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.78 $12.78
16.82%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$916 $916
125.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$14.5K $14.5K
170.46%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$38.82 $38.82
65.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37 $37
41.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$64.4 $64.4
47.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$115 $115
25.67%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,195 $1,195
99.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,032 $1,032
53.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,061 $2,061
131.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,618 $1,618
73.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,103 $2,103
70.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,037 $2,037
22.24%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,738 $3,738
41.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.15
7.32%

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 Johnson City, TN: October 28, 2025

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