Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnson City, TN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Johnson City, TN and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Johnson City, TN is 23.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Johnson City, TN is 20.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 $12.98
$20.82 $20.82
-37.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.01 $49.01
$100 $100
-51.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.18 $12.18
$11.97 $11.97
1.75%
Cappuccino
$3.81 $3.81
$5.56 $5.56
-31.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$3.11 $3.11
-31.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.42 $2.42
-29.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.13 $5.13
$6.86 $6.86
-25.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 $6.13
$8.45 $8.45
-27.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.15 $4.15
-7.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$5.52 $5.52
-44.75%
Eggs
$3.15 $3.15
$4.65 $4.65
-32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 $7.51
$14.33 $14.33
-47.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.48 $8.48
$14.88 $14.88
-43.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.78 $12.78
$19.34 $19.34
-33.92%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$5.17 $5.17
-21.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.71 $1.71
-9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.41 $4.41
-8.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$4.51 $4.51
-18.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.53 $2.53
-5.93%
Onion (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.74 $2.74
32.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.43 $2.43
-24.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.7 $7.7
$15.19 $15.19
-49.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.47 $9.47
$16.42 $16.42
-42.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.35 $2.35
-27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 $3.99
$3.7 $3.7
7.84%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.53 $2.53
-3.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.19 $37.19
$74.1 $74.1
-49.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.65 $5.65
$3.34 $3.34
69.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.42 $1.42
0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$65.3 $65.3
$25.42 $25.42
156.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.08 $1.08
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K $21.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-16.51%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 $149
$188 $188
-20.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.4 $74.4
$63.7 $63.7
16.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5 $52.5
$65.2 $65.2
-19.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 $45.87
$76.7 $76.7
-40.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.79 $19.79
$13.03 $13.03
51.88%
Cinema Ticket
$12.78 $12.78
$14.93 $14.93
-14.40%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$916 $916
$2,063 $2,063
-55.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K $14.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-63.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.82 $38.82
$64.3 $64.3
-39.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37 $37
$52.4 $52.4
-29.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 $64.4
$95.2 $95.2
-32.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$145 $145
-20.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 $1,195
$2,378 $2,378
-49.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,032 $1,032
$1,584 $1,584
-34.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 $2,061
$4,763 $4,763
-56.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,618 $1,618
$2,815 $2,815
-42.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,103 $2,103
$3,588 $3,588
-41.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,037 $2,037
$2,490 $2,490
-18.19%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Johnson City, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,738 $3,738
$5,275 $5,275
-29.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.15
6.6
-6.82%

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

Last update for Johnson City, TN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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