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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.6% more expensive than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 2.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.6% more expensive than Raleigh, NC without rent, and 14% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.86 $19.86

4.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$74.2 $74.2

35.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.11 $10.11

18.40%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.37 $5.37

3.54%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.36 $2.36

31.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.05 $2.05

18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.74 $5.74

19.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.13 $6.13

37.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.85 $0.85

22.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.01 $4.01

3.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.18 $3.18

73.58%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.76 $4.76

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.63 $13.63

5.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.46 $11.46

29.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.81 $16.81

15.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.72 $6.72

-23.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.47 $1.47

16.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.77 $5.77

-23.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.31 $6.31

-28.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.67 $3.67

-31.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.21 $4.21

-34.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.2 $2.2

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.26 $2.26

19.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.42 $7.42

104.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.77 $14.77

11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.03 $2.03

15.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.01 $3.01

22.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$45.36 $45.36

63.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.44 $2.44

36.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.74 $1.74

-18.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$14.73 $14.73

72.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.8 $0.8

35.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.82%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.38%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.98%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$63.9 $63.9

-0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$70.2 $70.2

-7.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$40.69 $40.69

88.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$34.1 $34.1

-61.79%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.2 $15.2

-1.78%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,492 $1,492

38.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

59.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.8 $51.8

24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.69 $48.69

7.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.6 $98.6

-3.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$142 $142

1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,828 $1,828

30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,539 $1,539

2.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,992 $2,992

59.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,400 $2,400

17.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,093 $3,093

16.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,505 $2,505

-0.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,392 $4,392

20.09%

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 Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

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