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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7% more expensive than Wilmington, NC without rent, and 15.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.2% more expensive than Wilmington, NC without rent, and 24.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.06 $15.06

38.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.2 $80.2

25.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.15 $11.15

7.35%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.24 $5.24

6.11%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.35 $2.35

32.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.28 $2.28

6.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.92 $3.92

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.93 $5.93

42.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.93 $0.93

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.02 $4.02

3.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.22 $6.22

-11.25%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.67 $5.67

-17.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.48 $10.48

36.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$19.29 $19.29

-22.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$22.72 $22.72

-14.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.49 $7.49

-30.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.33 $1.33

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.8 $5.8

-23.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.4 $5.4

-16.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.21 $4.21

-39.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$5.84 $5.84

-53.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.29 $2.29

6.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.22 $3.22

-16.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.6 $7.6

99.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$16.19 $16.19

1.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.01 $5.01

-26.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$79 $79

-6.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.97 $3.97

-15.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.53 $1.53

-7.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.5 $29.5

-13.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.79 $0.79

36.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.1K $29.1K

11.29%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.21%

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

$188 $188

$184 $184

2.53%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53 $53

20.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.4 $69.4

-5.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$61.1 $61.1

25.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.23 $12.23

22.08%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,437 $1,437

43.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.7K $23.7K

65.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.9 $55.9

15.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.1 $48.1

8.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$115 $115

25.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,385 $1,385

71.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,205 $1,205

31.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,413 $2,413

97.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,879 $1,879

49.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,925 $2,925

22.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,860 $2,860

-12.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,121 $4,121

28.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Wilmington, NC: October 29, 2025

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