Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Winston-Salem, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Winston-Salem, NC

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Winston-Salem, NC without rent, and 27.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 7.1% more expensive than Winston-Salem, NC without rent, and 31.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.56 $19.56

6.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.2 $75.2

33.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.92 $9.92

20.67%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.18 $5.18

7.34%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.39 $2.39

30.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.99 $1.99

21.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.53 $5.53

24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.98 $5.98

41.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 $0.87

19.54%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.11 $4.11

0.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.12 $3.12

76.92%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.76 $4.76

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.67 $15.67

-8.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.57 $11.57

28.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$25.91 $25.91

-25.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.73 $6.73

-23.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.41 $1.41

21.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.71 $5.71

-22.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.11 $6.11

-26.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.53 $3.53

-28.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.21 $4.21

-34.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.15 $2.15

13.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$5.92 $5.92

156.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.58 $9.58

71.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.61 $1.61

45.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.04 $3.04

21.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.02 $1.02

148.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$65.1 $65.1

13.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.48 $2.48

34.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.67 $1.67

-14.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$15.13 $15.13

68.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.7K $28.7K

12.86%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.20%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.10%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.8 $52.8

20.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.4 $69.4

-6.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$17.64 $17.64

334.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$15.25 $15.25

-14.56%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.17 $13.17

13.36%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,474 $1,474

39.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

63.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.79 $46.79

37.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$22.32 $22.32

134.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$66.8 $66.8

42.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

41.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,519 $1,519

56.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,093 $1,093

45.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,302 $2,302

106.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,736 $1,736

62.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$9,557 $9,557

-62.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,011 $5,011

-50.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,625 $3,625

45.51%

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 Winston-Salem, NC: October 29, 2025

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