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

🙂 Solo nomad: Durham, NC is 12.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Durham, NC is 12.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.14 $15.14

$20.82 $20.82

-27.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 $70.9

$100 $100

-29.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.97 $11.97

-16.88%

Cappuccino

$4.6 $4.6

$5.56 $5.56

-17.27%

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

$2.15 $2.15

$3.11 $3.11

-30.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.42 $2.42

-24.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.86 $6.86

-25.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 $6.53

$8.45 $8.45

-22.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.04 $1.04

-17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.8 $3.8

$4.15 $4.15

-8.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$5.52 $5.52

-33.33%

Eggs

$4.41 $4.41

$4.65 $4.65

-5.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 $9.23

$14.33 $14.33

-35.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.48 $12.48

$14.88 $14.88

-16.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.72 $15.72

$19.34 $19.34

-18.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$5.17 $5.17

6.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.71 $1.71

-30.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.41 $4.41

-15.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.51 $4.51

-23.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.53 $2.53

1.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.74 $2.74

2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.9 $1.9

$2.43 $2.43

-21.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.7 $2.7

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 $10.15

$15.19 $15.19

-33.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.42 $16.42

-7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 $4.22

$3.7 $3.7

14.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.53 $2.53

-21.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.24 $25.24

$74.1 $74.1

-65.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.34 $3.34

-39.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.42 $1.42

7.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.79 $22.79

$25.42 $25.42

-10.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-11.96%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.18%

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

$162 $162

$188 $188

-13.68%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$63.7 $63.7

-15.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.3 $75.3

$65.2 $65.2

15.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.25 $40.25

$76.7 $76.7

-47.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.15 $12.15

$14.93 $14.93

-18.62%

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

$1,288 $1,288

$2,063 $2,063

-37.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K $31.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-20.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$64.3 $64.3

-18.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.49 $34.49

$52.4 $52.4

-34.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 $79.5

$95.2 $95.2

-16.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$145 $145

-18.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,875 $1,875

$2,378 $2,378

-21.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,425 $1,425

$1,584 $1,584

-10.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$4,763 $4,763

-46.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,308 $2,308

$2,815 $2,815

-18.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,823 $2,823

$3,588 $3,588

-21.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$2,490 $2,490

7.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,429 $4,429

$5,275 $5,275

-16.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.6

-0.91%

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

Last update for Durham, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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