Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, TN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, TN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Columbia, TN is 32.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Columbia, TN is 40.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.04 $12.04

$20.82 $20.82

-42.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 $60.1

$100 $100

-40.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.9 $9.9

$11.97 $11.97

-17.29%

Cappuccino

$3.85 $3.85

$5.56 $5.56

-30.76%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$3.11 $3.11

-29.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.42 $2.42

-31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.86 $6.86

-11.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.41 $7.41

$8.45 $8.45

-12.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.04 $1.04

-7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 $2.89

$4.15 $4.15

-30.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$5.52 $5.52

-15.94%

Eggs

$2.55 $2.55

$4.65 $4.65

-45.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.21 $11.21

$14.33 $14.33

-21.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.6 $6.6

$14.88 $14.88

-55.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$19.34 $19.34

-32.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$5.17 $5.17

18.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.71 $1.71

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.41 $4.41

17.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.9 $3.9

$4.51 $4.51

-13.53%

Potato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.53 $2.53

96.44%

Onion (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$2.74 $2.74

27.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.43 $2.43

-2.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.7 $2.7

-12.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 $7.76

$15.19 $15.19

-48.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 $14.41

$16.42 $16.42

-12.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.35 $2.35

-26.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.7 $3.7

-47.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.53 $2.53

-22.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.34 $3.34

-41.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.42 $1.42

-5.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.2 $20.2

$25.42 $25.42

-20.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.08 $1.08

-27.78%

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

$33.4K $33.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

3.07%

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

$27K $27K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.84%

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

$153 $153

$188 $188

-18.83%

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

$59 $59

$63.7 $63.7

-7.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 $66.1

$65.2 $65.2

1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.1 $35.1

$76.7 $76.7

-54.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 $12.16

$14.93 $14.93

-18.55%

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

$602 $602

$2,063 $2,063

-70.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.2K $27.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-30.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.06 $40.06

$64.3 $64.3

-37.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.98 $31.98

$52.4 $52.4

-38.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 $73.9

$95.2 $95.2

-22.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 $89.4

$145 $145

-38.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 $1,347

$2,378 $2,378

-43.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,229 $1,229

$1,584 $1,584

-22.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$4,763 $4,763

-46.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 $2,339

$2,815 $2,815

-16.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,574 $2,574

$3,588 $3,588

-28.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,507 $2,507

$2,490 $2,490

0.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,466 $2,466

$5,275 $5,275

-53.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Columbia, TN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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