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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 27% more expensive than Maiden, NC without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 38.9% more expensive than Maiden, NC without rent, and 25% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.86 $18.86
10.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.2 $74.2
35.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.98 $10.98
9.02%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.18 $5.18
7.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.46 $2.46
26.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.04 $2.04
18.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.85 $5.85
17.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.12 $7.12
18.68%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.99 $0.99
5.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.43 $3.43
20.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.33 $4.33
27.48%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.1 $4.1
13.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.31 $12.31
16.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.52 $11.52
29.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.13 $15.13
27.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.78 $4.78
8.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.2 $4.2
5.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.74 $4.74
-4.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.89 $2.89
-12.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.89 $2.89
-5.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.04 $2.04
19.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.2 $2.2
22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.74 $9.74
55.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.92 $13.92
17.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.84 $1.84
27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.4 $3.4
8.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
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
$1.6 $1.6
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.12 $29.12
-12.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.1K $29.1K
11.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
3.13%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$188 $188
0.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.6 $53.6
18.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.4 $68.4
-4.72%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.6 $42.6
80.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.58 $13.58
9.94%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,310 $1,310
57.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.41%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51 $51
26.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.58 $39.58
32.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86 $86
10.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$110 $110
31.74%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,634 $1,634
45.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,361 $1,361
16.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,667 $2,667
78.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,255 $2,255
24.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,612 $2,612
37.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,284 $2,284
9.04%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Maiden, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,963 $7,963
-33.75%
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 Maiden, NC: October 28, 2025

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