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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,125 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,036 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,946 in Johnson City, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 42% more than Johnson City, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Johnson City, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Johnson City, TN by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$12.84 $12.84

58.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$49.28 $49.28

106.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.14 $12.14

-1.32%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$3.75 $3.75

52.00%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.09 $2.09

43.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.71 $1.71

43.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.89 $4.89

40.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.02 $6.02

34.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.95 $0.95

8.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.74 $3.74

5.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.16 $3.16

71.52%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.28 $3.28

37.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$7.36 $7.36

97.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$8.75 $8.75

70.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$13.15 $13.15

44.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.17 $4.17

29.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.56 $1.56

13.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.96 $3.96

9.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.52 $3.52

28.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.43 $2.43

4.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.56 $3.56

-21.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.84 $1.84

36.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.23 $2.23

19.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.42 $7.42

100.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$13.06 $13.06

16.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.67 $1.67

47.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.01 $4.01

-11.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.57 $2.57

-0.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$37.27 $37.27

99.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$5.58 $5.58

-42.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.48 $1.48

-4.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$66.3 $66.3

-61.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.74 $0.74

40.54%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$29.6K $29.6K

8.81%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$21.9K $21.9K

22.49%

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

$184 $184

$146 $146

26.12%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$75.1 $75.1

-15.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$51.9 $51.9

27.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$47.11 $47.11

61.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

$20.35 $20.35

-35.82%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$13.21 $13.21

15.44%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$883 $883

136.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.2K $14.2K

175.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$39.40 $39.40

62.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$36.36 $36.36

40.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$63.9 $63.9

52.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$118 $118

25.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,207 $1,207

93.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,018 $1,018

54.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,070 $2,070

129.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$1,628 $1,628

73.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,191 $2,191

77.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,211 $2,211

19.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,470 $3,470

37.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.15

7.32%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Johnson City, TN: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,207 in Johnson City, 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 37% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $333 – making Johnson City, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Johnson City, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,125 in Johnson City, TN – roughly 42% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,188 in Johnson City, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Johnson City, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $49.00 in Johnson City, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Johnson City, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,125, than in Chicago, IL at $3,009. In Johnson City, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,125 in Johnson City, TN to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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