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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.4% more expensive than Shelby, NC without rent, and 59% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 75.1% more expensive than Shelby, NC without rent, and 79.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.07 $14.07

47.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$35.14 $35.14

185.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.43 $9.43

26.94%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.67 $3.67

51.50%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.48 $1.48

110.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.23 $1.23

96.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$2.44 $2.44

181.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$2.95 $2.95

186.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.79 $0.79

31.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.68 $2.68

54.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.64 $3.64

51.65%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.32 $4.32

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.27 $9.27

54.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.76 $12.76

16.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.4 $22.4

-13.66%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.24 $5.24

-1.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.75 $1.75

-2.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.14 $5.14

-14.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.14 $3.14

43.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.3 $3.3

-23.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.57 $4.57

-40.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.87 $1.87

44.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.56 $8.56

77.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.28 $9.28

76.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.98 $1.98

18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.76 $2.76

34.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.96 $1.96

29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.05 $2.05

62.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.39 $2.39

-40.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$17.99 $17.99

41.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.75 $0.75

44.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24K $24K

34.96%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.1K $22.1K

18.65%

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

$188 $188

$218 $218

-13.63%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$34.32 $34.32

85.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$49.07 $49.07

32.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.49 $43.49

76.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.29 $15.29

-2.35%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$301 $301

584.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$22.8K $22.8K

71.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$48.53 $48.53

32.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$34.53 $34.53

51.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$70.2 $70.2

35.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$78.4 $78.4

84.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,571 $1,571

51.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$814 $814

94.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,601 $2,601

83.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,159 $1,159

142.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,522 $2,522

42.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,750 $2,750

-9.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,486 $2,486

112.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.38

3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Shelby, NC: October 29, 2025

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