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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Clayton, NC is 17.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Clayton, NC is 30.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.78 $17.78
$20.82 $20.82
-14.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$100 $100
-25.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.9 $9.9
$11.97 $11.97
-17.29%
Cappuccino
$4.88 $4.88
$5.56 $5.56
-12.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$3.11 $3.11
-23.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.42 $2.42
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.66 $5.66
$6.86 $6.86
-17.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$8.45 $8.45
-27.34%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.15 $4.15
-6.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.14 $3.14
$5.52 $5.52
-43.12%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$4.65 $4.65
-4.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.78 $13.78
$14.33 $14.33
-3.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.6 $11.6
$14.88 $14.88
-22.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.69 $16.69
$19.34 $19.34
-13.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.17 $5.17
7.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.71 $1.71
-5.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.63 $5.63
$4.41 $4.41
27.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.51 $4.51
-12.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.53 $2.53
46.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.74 $2.74
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.43 $2.43
-25.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.7 $2.7
-28.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.22 $8.22
$15.19 $15.19
-45.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.02 $14.02
$16.42 $16.42
-14.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.35 $2.35
-8.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.7 $3.7
-18.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.34 $3.34
-26.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.94 $14.94
$25.42 $25.42
-41.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 $138
$188 $188
-26.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$63.7 $63.7
-12.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.6 $69.6
$65.2 $65.2
6.81%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.6 $42.6
$76.7 $76.7
-44.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.02 $14.02
$14.93 $14.93
-6.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$2,063 $2,063
-34.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.91%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.56 $49.56
$64.3 $64.3
-22.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.04 $36.04
$52.4 $52.4
-31.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 $99.9
$95.2 $95.2
4.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$145 $145
-4.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,610 $1,610
$2,378 $2,378
-32.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 $1,337
$1,584 $1,584
-15.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,579 $2,579
$4,763 $4,763
-45.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,190 $2,190
$2,815 $2,815
-22.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,787 $2,787
$3,588 $3,588
-22.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,136 $2,136
$2,490 $2,490
-14.21%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Clayton, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Clayton, NC: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.