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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23% more expensive than Sanford, NC without rent, and 19% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 17% more expensive than Sanford, NC without rent, and 30.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.93 $15.93

30.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.7 $50.7

98.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.83 $9.83

21.77%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$2.32 $2.32

139.66%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.79 $1.79

73.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.82 $3.82

79.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.52 $7.52

12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.38 $3.38

22.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.27 $4.27

29.27%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.45 $4.45

4.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$16.9 $16.9

-15.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.43 $16.43

-9.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.83 $16.83

14.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.71 $5.71

-9.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.27 $1.27

34.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.5 $6.5

-32.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.03 $4.03

11.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.71 $3.71

-31.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.72 $2.72

0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.56 $1.56

55.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.89 $1.89

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.55 $7.55

101.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.27 $15.27

7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.07 $2.07

13.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.2 $3.2

15.63%

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

$3.05 $3.05

9.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.81 $1.81

-21.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.89 $29.89

-14.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.4K $34.4K

-5.66%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.09%

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

$188 $188

$141 $141

33.12%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.49 $44.49

43.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$71 $71

-8.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.56 $43.56

76.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.73 $13.73

8.74%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,349 $1,349

52.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

59.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.86 $49.86

28.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$35.55 $35.55

47.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$156 $156

-7.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,599 $1,599

48.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,349 $1,349

17.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,631 $2,631

81.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,204 $2,204

27.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,994 $1,994

79.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,934 $1,934

28.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,562 $3,562

48.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sanford, NC: October 29, 2025

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