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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.7% more expensive than Sylva, NC without rent, and 16.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.8% more expensive than Sylva, NC without rent, and 29.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$21.92 $21.92

-5.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$60.7 $60.7

65.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.07 $9.07

31.97%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.08 $5.08

9.45%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.5 $2.5

24.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.03 $2.03

19.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.62 $6.62

3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.96 $7.96

6.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.66 $0.66

57.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.65 $3.65

13.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.56 $4.56

21.05%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.42 $4.42

5.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$8.6 $8.6

66.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.68 $9.68

53.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.6 $19.6

-1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.89 $4.89

5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.68 $1.68

1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.45 $4.45

-0.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.96 $3.96

13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.65 $3.65

-30.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.53 $3.53

-22.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.37 $2.37

2.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.05 $2.05

31.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$6.15 $6.15

146.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.73 $14.73

11.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.74 $1.74

35.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.6 $1.6

131.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.99 $2.99

11.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.89 $1.89

-24.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$39.38 $39.38

-35.45%

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

$23.1K $23.1K

40.06%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.8K $22.8K

15.02%

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

$188 $188

$288 $288

-34.65%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.4 $54.4

17.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$49.88 $49.88

30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.5 $42.5

80.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.84 $14.84

0.61%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,319 $1,319

56.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$29.5K $29.5K

32.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$25.48 $25.48

152.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.11 $39.11

33.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$35.1 $35.1

171.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$64.1 $64.1

125.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,607 $1,607

47.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,362 $1,362

16.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,677 $2,677

77.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,211 $2,211

27.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,555 $2,555

40.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,402 $2,402

3.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sylva, NC: October 29, 2025

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