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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 31% more expensive than Lenoir, NC without rent, and 14.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Lenoir, NC without rent, and 23.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.96 $18.96
9.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.3 $76.3
31.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.14 $11.14
7.45%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.12 $5.12
8.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.6 $2.6
19.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.02 $2.02
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.08 $6.08
12.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.9 $6.9
22.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.01 $1.01
2.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.42 $3.42
21.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.3 $4.3
28.37%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.18 $4.18
11.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.33 $12.33
16.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.46 $11.46
29.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.59 $15.59
24.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.05 $5.05
2.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.58 $1.58
8.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.28 $4.28
3.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.58 $4.58
-1.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.81 $2.81
-9.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.81 $2.81
-2.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.1 $2.1
15.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.2 $2.2
22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.78 $9.78
55.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.09 $14.09
16.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.8 $1.8
30.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.45 $3.45
7.25%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.47 $3.47
-3.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.66 $1.66
-14.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.31 $29.31
-13.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.4K $29.4K
10.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.46%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$185 $185
1.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.2 $53.2
19.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.6 $68.6
-5.00%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.76 $43.76
75.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.44 $13.44
11.09%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,317 $1,317
56.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.5K $23.5K
66.39%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.9 $50.9
26.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.38 $39.38
33.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88 $88
8.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$110 $110
31.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,609 $1,609
47.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,368 $1,368
15.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,616 $2,616
82.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,195 $2,195
28.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,475 $2,475
44.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,391 $2,391
4.14%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lenoir, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 Lenoir, NC: October 29, 2025

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