Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Jackson, TN: $2,209 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $10,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

105

Cost of Living Index in Jackson, TN
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Jackson, TN Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Jackson, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,209

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jackson, TN and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jackson, TN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,209 per month in Jackson, TN vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Jackson, TN $2,209
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,140 per month in Jackson, TN vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Jackson, TN $3,140
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,071 per month in Jackson, TN vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Jackson, TN $4,071
Chicago, IL $6,019

Jackson, TN is about 28% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Jackson, TN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Jackson, TN by 63%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.20 $17.20

$20.39 $20.39

-15.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.11 $49.11

$88.6 $88.6

-44.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 $10.45

$12.85 $12.85

-18.68%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.78 $5.78

-12.28%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$2.74 $2.74

-10.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.26 $2.26

-19.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 $3.99

$6.88 $6.88

-42.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 $4.90

$9.24 $9.24

-46.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.26 $1.26

-34.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.55 $3.55

-11.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$5.38 $5.38

-51.30%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.55 $4.55

-5.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$13.65 $13.65

-30.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 $10.25

$14.07 $14.07

-27.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.01 $15.01

$18.06 $18.06

-16.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$5.16 $5.16

-24.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.98 $1.98

-31.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.88 $3.88

-30.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.83 $4.83

-36.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.81 $2.81

-38.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.67 $2.67

-14.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.07 $2.07

-10.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.03 $3.03

-36.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.26 $8.26

$13.90 $13.90

-40.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.81 $12.81

$15.05 $15.05

-14.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.63 $2.63

-34.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.45 $3.45

-41.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.43 $2.43

-48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.36 $34.36

$75.3 $75.3

-54.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.17 $3.17

-38.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.70 $1.70

-26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.19 $20.19

$24.90 $24.90

-18.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.28 $1.28

-29.69%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$35.8K $35.8K

-15.13%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.8K $26.8K

-5.74%

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

$170 $170

$192 $192

-11.74%

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

$65.6 $65.6

$69.6 $69.6

-5.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 $72.6

$62.2 $62.2

16.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.6 $50.6

$47.79 $47.79

5.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.8 $50.8

$27.10 $27.10

87.27%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 $11.21

$17.83 $17.83

-37.13%

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

$1,116 $1,116

$1,815 $1,815

-38.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K $14.7K

$40.6K $40.6K

-63.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 $50.5

$66.2 $66.2

-23.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.72 $36.72

$51.4 $51.4

-28.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.4 $64.4

$103 $103

-37.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.2 $98.2

$143 $143

-31.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 $1,206

$2,531 $2,531

-52.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 $1,067

$1,621 $1,621

-34.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 $1,630

$4,828 $4,828

-66.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 $1,602

$2,734 $2,734

-41.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,719 $1,719

$4,163 $4,163

-58.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 $1,714

$2,723 $2,723

-37.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,206 $4,206

$4,924 $4,924

-14.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.78

-3.69%

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

Last update for Jackson, TN: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Jackson, TN

$1.1K 48.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 52% $554

Groceries & Markets

Jackson, TN

$324 14.7%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 35.4% $115

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jackson, TN

$308 13.9%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 5.3% $16

Eating Out

Jackson, TN

$277 12.5%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 24.4% $67

Clothing & Footwear

Jackson, TN

$112 5.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 45.5% $51

Sport & Entertainment

Jackson, TN

$73 3.3%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 14.3% $10

Getting Around

Jackson, TN

$48 2.2%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 103% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,206 in Jackson, TN versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Jackson, TN versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $439 – making Jackson, TN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Jackson, TN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:49 5:49 AM

Same time as Jackson, TN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

153,701

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Jackson, TN Chicago, IL 700 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Jackson, TN
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jackson, TN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,209 in Jackson, TN, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Jackson, TN comes out roughly 28% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,313 per month in Jackson, TN and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jackson, TN, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,206 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Jackson, TN and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Jackson, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,209, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Jackson, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jackson, TN – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Jackson, TN. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.