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 38.9% more expensive than Johnson City, TN without rent, and 45.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 60.6% more expensive than Johnson City, TN without rent, and 55.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$13.25 $13.25
51.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$50.4 $50.4
101.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$12.16 $12.16
-1.15%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$3.75 $3.75
49.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.08 $2.08
44.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.97 $4.97
40.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.12 $6.12
38.07%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.96 $0.96
13.54%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.89 $3.89
5.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$3.03 $3.03
83.83%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.10 $3.10
45.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$7.30 $7.30
97.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$8.45 $8.45
77.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$12.91 $12.91
47.02%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.09 $4.09
27.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.54 $1.54
15.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.08 $4.08
6.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.55 $3.55
27.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.36 $2.36
8.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.61 $3.61
-24.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.82 $1.82
36.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.21 $2.21
19.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$7.50 $7.50
101.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$12.80 $12.80
16.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.66 $1.66
48.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.13 $4.13
-11.38%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.54 $2.54
1.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$37.16 $37.16
99.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$5.65 $5.65
-41.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.50 $1.50
-8.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$65.5 $65.5
-61.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.79 $0.79
34.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$29.5K $29.5K
6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$22.2K $22.2K
17.94%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$150 $150
24.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$75.3 $75.3
-16.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$51.3 $51.3
28.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$47.18 $47.18
59.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
$20.05 $20.05
-35.41%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$12.79 $12.79
18.30%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$890 $890
132.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$14.4K $14.4K
169.81%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$38.13 $38.13
67.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$36.14 $36.14
40.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$64.6 $64.6
50.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$115 $115
24.45%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,199 $1,199
94.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,024 $1,024
57.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,094 $2,094
127.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,621 $1,621
70.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,173 $2,173
73.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,193 $2,193
19.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Johnson City, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,519 $3,519
42.24%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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