Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Bern, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Bern, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23% more expensive than New Bern, NC without rent, and 47.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.5% more expensive than New Bern, NC without rent, and 29.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.78 $16.78

24.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$94.7 $94.7

5.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.65 $11.65

2.75%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.56 $4.56

21.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.82 $2.82

10.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.15 $2.15

12.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.47 $4.47

53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.77 $7.77

8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.29 $3.29

26.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.57 $4.57

20.79%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.58 $3.58

29.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.75 $13.75

4.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.91 $8.91

67.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.9 $14.9

29.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.08 $5.08

1.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.22 $1.22

40.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.44 $3.44

28.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.46 $5.46

-17.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.32 $2.32

9.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.83 $2.83

-3.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.81 $1.81

34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.14 $10.14

49.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.72 $12.72

29.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.99 $1.99

18.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.93 $1.93

91.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.59 $3.59

-6.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.27 $2.27

-37.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$31.89 $31.89

-20.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.79 $0.79

36.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$20.2K $20.2K

60.84%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$21.6K $21.6K

21.19%

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

$188 $188

$144 $144

30.34%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$63.1 $63.1

1.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69 $69

-5.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$54.3 $54.3

41.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$9.85 $9.85

51.57%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,308 $1,308

57.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

65.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$33.21 $33.21

93.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$25.32 $25.32

106.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$68.1 $68.1

39.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$97.5 $97.5

48.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,090 $1,090

118.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$915 $915

73.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,474 $2,474

92.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,084 $2,084

35.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,021 $2,021

77.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,043 $2,043

21.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,314 $3,314

59.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.36

3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for New Bern, NC: October 29, 2025

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