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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Jacksonville, NC is 7.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Jacksonville, NC is 13.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.34 $18.34
$20.82 $20.82
-11.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 $54.7
$100 $100
-45.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 $9.89
$11.97 $11.97
-17.38%
Cappuccino
$4.65 $4.65
$5.56 $5.56
-16.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.11 $3.11
-21.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.42 $2.42
-26.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.97 $4.97
$6.86 $6.86
-27.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49 $6.49
$8.45 $8.45
-23.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.04 $1.04
-16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 $2.16
$4.15 $4.15
-47.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.3 $4.3
$5.52 $5.52
-22.10%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.65 $4.65
-2.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.06 $12.06
$14.33 $14.33
-15.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.44 $14.44
$14.88 $14.88
-2.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.79 $27.79
$19.34 $19.34
43.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$5.17 $5.17
-58.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.71 $1.71
-14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$4.41 $4.41
11.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$4.51 $4.51
-20.84%
Potato (1kg)
$7.47 $7.47
$2.53 $2.53
195.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.74 $2.74
33.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.43 $2.43
40.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.7 $2.7
-26.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.69 $10.69
$15.19 $15.19
-29.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.24 $12.24
$16.42 $16.42
-25.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05 $7.05
$3.7 $3.7
90.54%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.34 $3.34
-23.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.42 $1.42
66.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.39 $29.39
$25.42 $25.42
15.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-13.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.92%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$188 $188
-9.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.1 $56.1
$63.7 $63.7
-11.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.9 $78.9
$65.2 $65.2
21.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.98 $36.98
$76.7 $76.7
-51.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.23 $14.23
$14.93 $14.93
-4.69%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$906 $906
$2,063 $2,063
-56.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.78%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.57 $30.57
$64.3 $64.3
-52.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.26 $39.26
$52.4 $52.4
-25.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 $80.2
$95.2 $95.2
-15.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2 $74.2
$145 $145
-48.68%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,177 $1,177
$2,378 $2,378
-50.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,364 $1,364
$1,584 $1,584
-13.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,617 $1,617
$4,763 $4,763
-66.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 $1,513
$2,815 $2,815
-46.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,924 $1,924
$3,588 $3,588
-46.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,727 $6,727
$2,490 $2,490
170.15%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Jacksonville, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,677 $2,677
$5,275 $5,275
-49.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
6.6
-4.09%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jacksonville, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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