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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,415 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,417 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,419 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 27% more than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Memphis, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Memphis, TN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.19 $19.19

5.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$75.7 $75.7

31.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.97 $9.97

22.67%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.11 $5.11

9.59%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.56 $2.56

21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.82 $5.82

19.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.91 $7.91

3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.75 $2.75

44.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.50 $4.50

24.00%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.19 $4.19

6.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$10.95 $10.95

32.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.00 $11.00

37.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.47 $15.47

25.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.31 $6.31

-14.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.58 $1.58

11.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.45 $5.45

-20.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.86 $4.86

-9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.92 $4.92

-48.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.35 $3.35

-19.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.35 $2.35

5.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.47 $2.47

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$7.94 $7.94

86.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$13.44 $13.44

12.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.76 $1.76

40.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.92 $1.92

87.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.24 $1.24

104.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$12.67 $12.67

501.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.06 $2.06

60.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.40 $1.40

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$19.81 $19.81

28.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$33.2K $33.2K

-4.76%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$27.4K $27.4K

-2.90%

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

$186 $186

$215 $215

-13.34%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$58.0 $58.0

8.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$67.0 $67.0

-1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$37.32 $37.32

107.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$17.71 $17.71

-25.69%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.63 $12.63

16.71%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,582 $1,582

28.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$27.8K $27.8K

43.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$39.22 $39.22

62.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$32.45 $32.45

57.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$75.1 $75.1

26.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$141 $141

2.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,207 $1,207

91.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,115 $1,115

41.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,547 $1,547

203.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,600 $1,600

71.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,757 $1,757

131.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,349 $1,349

99.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,578 $3,578

40.28%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Memphis, TN: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,207 in Memphis, 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 40% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Memphis, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $393 – making Memphis, 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 Memphis, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,415 in Memphis, TN – roughly 27% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,622 in Memphis, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Memphis, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Memphis, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,415, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Memphis, 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 $2,415 in Memphis, TN to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Memphis, 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.