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

🙂 Solo nomad: Gastonia, NC is 31.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Gastonia, NC is 22% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.09 $18.09

$20.82 $20.82

-13.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 $50.4

$100 $100

-49.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 $5.76

$11.97 $11.97

-51.88%

Cappuccino

$3.82 $3.82

$5.56 $5.56

-31.29%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$3.11 $3.11

-24.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.42 $2.42

-19.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 $4.47

$6.86 $6.86

-34.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.29 $5.29

$8.45 $8.45

-37.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.04 $1.04

-20.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 $2.64

$4.15 $4.15

-36.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.9 $2.9

$5.52 $5.52

-47.46%

Eggs

$3.68 $3.68

$4.65 $4.65

-20.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 $9.49

$14.33 $14.33

-33.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 $13.05

$14.88 $14.88

-12.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.95 $17.95

$19.34 $19.34

-7.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.17 $5.17

-11.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.71 $1.71

-1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.41 $4.41

14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.2 $3.2

$4.51 $4.51

-29.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.53 $2.53

27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.74 $2.74

56.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.43 $2.43

-16.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.7 $2.7

-38.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.37 $8.37

$15.19 $15.19

-44.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$16.42 $16.42

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.35 $2.35

-16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.7 $3.7

-26.49%

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)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.34 $3.34

-39.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.42 $1.42

67.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.11 $18.11

$25.42 $25.42

-28.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.30%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.90%

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

$225 $225

$188 $188

19.29%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$63.7 $63.7

-15.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$65.2 $65.2

-7.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.96 $27.96

$76.7 $76.7

-63.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.27 $12.27

$14.93 $14.93

-17.82%

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

$1,434 $1,434

$2,063 $2,063

-30.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K $12.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-68.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.68 $34.68

$64.3 $64.3

-46.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.62 $34.62

$52.4 $52.4

-33.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70 $70

$95.2 $95.2

-26.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.1 $98.1

$145 $145

-32.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,251 $1,251

$2,378 $2,378

-47.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 $1,032

$1,584 $1,584

-34.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,124 $3,124

$4,763 $4,763

-34.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,656 $2,656

$2,815 $2,815

-5.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,340 $2,340

$3,588 $3,588

-34.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,312 $2,312

$2,490 $2,490

-7.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,088 $4,088

$5,275 $5,275

-22.51%

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 Gastonia, NC: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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