Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Memphis, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Memphis, TN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.5% more expensive than Memphis, TN without rent, and 25.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.8% more expensive than Memphis, TN without rent, and 39.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.11 $19.11
8.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.6 $74.6
34.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.2 $10.2
17.35%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.3 $5.3
4.91%
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
$6.16 $6.16
11.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.96 $7.96
6.16%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.76 $2.76
50.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.52 $4.52
22.12%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.11 $4.11
13.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.26 $11.26
27.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.7 $10.7
39.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.67 $15.67
23.42%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.28 $6.28
-17.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.6 $1.6
6.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.29 $5.29
-16.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.71 $4.71
-4.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.91 $4.91
-48.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.49 $3.49
-21.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.28 $2.28
6.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.45 $2.45
10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.91 $7.91
92.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.75 $14.75
11.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.89 $1.89
95.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.23 $1.23
105.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$12.31 $12.31
502.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.94 $1.94
72.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.41 $1.41
0.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$19.93 $19.93
27.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.76 $0.76
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.5K $32.5K
-0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.7K $26.7K
-1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$217 $217
-13.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$59.2 $59.2
7.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.6 $66.6
-2.15%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$38.25 $38.25
100.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$18.05 $18.05
-27.81%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.62 $12.62
18.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,570 $1,570
31.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$27.3K $27.3K
43.62%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.14 $40.14
60.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$31.92 $31.92
64.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$73.6 $73.6
29.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$139 $139
4.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,178 $1,178
101.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,123 $1,123
41.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,564 $1,564
204.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,637 $1,637
71.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,481 $1,481
142.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,514 $1,514
64.48%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Memphis, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,407 $3,407
54.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Memphis, TN: October 27, 2025

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