Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pikeville, TN: $2,697 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in Pikeville, TN
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Pikeville, TN Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Pikeville, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,697

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Pikeville, TN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Pikeville, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,697 in Pikeville, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Pikeville, TN $2,697

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,953 in Pikeville, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Pikeville, TN $3,953

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,210 in Pikeville, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Pikeville, TN $5,210

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Pikeville, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Pikeville, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Pikeville, TN by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.78 $19.78

4.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$74.7 $74.7

19.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.73 $11.73

12.45%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.23 $5.23

8.22%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.72 $2.72

-2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.05 $2.05

11.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.09 $6.09

12.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.90 $6.90

28.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.07 $1.07

16.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.65 $2.65

40.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.92 $6.92

-22.11%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.33 $4.33

9.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$9.25 $9.25

49.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.37 $14.37

0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$26.15 $26.15

-29.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.38 $3.38

54.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.68 $2.68

-26.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$8.43 $8.43

-51.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$7.82 $7.82

-36.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.83 $2.83

-5.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$5.59 $5.59

-52.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.25 $2.25

-0.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.98 $1.98

58.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.09 $10.09

36.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.71 $15.71

-5.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.27 $3.27

7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$59.5 $59.5

23.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.13 $3.13

1.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.98 $1.98

-29.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$29.41 $29.41

-14.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.01 $1.01

18.81%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

23.07%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.26%

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

$194 $194

$200 $200

-2.65%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.6 $58.6

18.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$68.9 $68.9

-10.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$40.51 $40.51

18.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$29.93 $29.93

-8.65%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$13.82 $13.82

28.87%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,447 $1,447

23.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

37.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$53.2 $53.2

25.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$41.54 $41.54

25.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$89.0 $89.0

14.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$115 $115

25.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,586 $1,586

59.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,301 $1,301

21.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,523 $2,523

87.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,088 $2,088

28.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,107 $3,107

34.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,301 $2,301

20.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Pikeville, TN: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Pikeville, TN

$1.3K 48.2% 17.6% $277

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Pikeville, TN

$466 17.3% 4.2% $19

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Pikeville, TN

$320 11.9% 7.4% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Pikeville, TN

$327 12.1% 0.5% $1.7

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Pikeville, TN

$134 5% 18.1% $30

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Pikeville, TN

$81 3% 13.6% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Pikeville, TN

$68 2.5% 18.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,586 in Pikeville, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Pikeville, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $466 in Pikeville, TN – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Pikeville, TN

🕒 Local time

21:43 9:43 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

1,600

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Pikeville, TN 730 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Pikeville, TN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pikeville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,697 in Pikeville, TN – Pikeville, TN comes out roughly 11% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,045 in Pikeville, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pikeville, TN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,586 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Pikeville, TN. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,697 in Pikeville, TN. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Pikeville, TN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.