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

🙂 Solo nomad: Hickory, NC is 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Hickory, NC is 21.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 33.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.74 $19.74

$20.82 $20.82

-5.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.4 $70.4

$100 $100

-29.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.86 $10.86

$11.97 $11.97

-9.27%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.56 $5.56

1.26%

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

$2.77 $2.77

$3.11 $3.11

-10.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.42 $2.42

-3.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.86 $6.86

-14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.87 $6.87

$8.45 $8.45

-18.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.71 $3.71

$4.15 $4.15

-10.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.52 $5.52

-16.85%

Eggs

$2.47 $2.47

$4.65 $4.65

-46.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$14.33 $14.33

-10.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 $9.12

$14.88 $14.88

-38.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.75 $19.75

$19.34 $19.34

2.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$5.17 $5.17

8.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.71 $1.71

-23.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.41 $4.41

61.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.51 $4.51

23.50%

Potato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$2.53 $2.53

91.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.74 $2.74

39.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.43 $2.43

-23.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.7 $2.7

-15.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.81 $6.81

$15.19 $15.19

-55.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$16.42 $16.42

-7.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.35 $2.35

-28.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.7 $3.7

-17.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 $1.22

$2.53 $2.53

-51.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.29 $45.29

$74.1 $74.1

-38.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.34 $3.34

3.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.42 $1.42

7.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.18 $18.18

$25.42 $25.42

-28.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.08 $1.08

-30.56%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

10.85%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.60%

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

$160 $160

$188 $188

-14.91%

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

$54.5 $54.5

$63.7 $63.7

-14.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.4 $62.4

$65.2 $65.2

-4.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.22 $35.22

$76.7 $76.7

-54.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.19 $13.19

$14.93 $14.93

-11.65%

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

$1,725 $1,725

$2,063 $2,063

-16.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,821 $9,821

$39.2K $39.2K

-74.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.16 $47.16

$64.3 $64.3

-26.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.04 $45.04

$52.4 $52.4

-14.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96 $96

$95.2 $95.2

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$145 $145

-3.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 $1,209

$2,378 $2,378

-49.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

$1,584 $1,584

-37.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$4,763 $4,763

-60.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 $1,323

$2,815 $2,815

-53.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 $2,218

$3,588 $3,588

-38.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 $2,110

$2,490 $2,490

-15.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,696 $3,696

$5,275 $5,275

-29.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

6.6

-26.52%

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

Last update for Hickory, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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