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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,454 in Kenansville, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,554 in Kenansville, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,655 in Kenansville, NC, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than Kenansville, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Kenansville, NC sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Kenansville, NC by 84%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$17.77 $17.77

13.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$81.4 $81.4

22.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.98 $9.98

22.55%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.00 $5.00

12.00%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.54 $2.54

22.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.94 $1.94

25.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.93 $5.93

16.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.50 $7.50

9.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.73 $3.73

6.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.19 $4.19

33.17%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.06 $3.06

46.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$10.21 $10.21

42.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$6.08 $6.08

148.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.63 $12.63

53.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$3.81 $3.81

40.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.27 $1.27

38.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.52 $4.52

-4.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.06 $4.06

8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.34 $2.34

8.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.84 $2.84

-4.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.77 $1.77

40.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.88 $1.88

38.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$5.92 $5.92

150.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$8.12 $8.12

86.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.07 $2.07

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.29 $3.29

9.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.02 $2.02

25.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.96 $2.96

11.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.52 $1.52

-9.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$29.43 $29.43

-13.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$34.3K $34.3K

-7.61%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.4K $24.4K

8.90%

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

$186 $186

$141 $141

31.77%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$39.25 $39.25

60.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$71.2 $71.2

-7.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$43.12 $43.12

80.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.09 $14.09

4.61%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$813 $813

150.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$24.3K $24.3K

64.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$45.16 $45.16

41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$35.40 $35.40

44.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$79.7 $79.7

19.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$126 $126

14.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,628 $1,628

41.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,347 $1,347

16.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,592 $2,592

80.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,204 $2,204

24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,771 $2,771

46.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,071 $2,071

30.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kenansville, NC: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,628 in Kenansville, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Kenansville, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $316 – making Kenansville, NC 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 Kenansville, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,454 in Kenansville, NC – roughly 25% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,681 in Kenansville, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Kenansville, NC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,454 in Kenansville, NC. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,454 in Kenansville, NC to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kenansville, NC. 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.