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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Knoxville, TN is 16.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Knoxville, TN is 17.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68 $17.68
$20.82 $20.82
-15.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.9 $85.9
$100 $100
-14.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 $9.99
$11.97 $11.97
-16.54%
Cappuccino
$5.83 $5.83
$5.56 $5.56
4.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.11 $3.11
-19.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.42 $2.42
-2.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.4 $6.4
$6.86 $6.86
-6.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.18 $6.18
$8.45 $8.45
-26.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.04 $1.04
2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$4.15 $4.15
-12.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$5.52 $5.52
-29.89%
Eggs
$3.86 $3.86
$4.65 $4.65
-16.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.9 $9.9
$14.33 $14.33
-30.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.52 $8.52
$14.88 $14.88
-42.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 $15.72
$19.34 $19.34
-18.72%
Apples (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$5.17 $5.17
25.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.71 $1.71
-16.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$4.41 $4.41
-41.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$4.51 $4.51
14.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.53 $2.53
-13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$2.74 $2.74
74.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.43 $2.43
-5.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.7 $2.7
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.04 $9.04
$15.19 $15.19
-40.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.11 $15.11
$16.42 $16.42
-7.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.35 $2.35
-20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$3.7 $3.7
-21.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.53 $2.53
-60.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.43 $30.43
$74.1 $74.1
-58.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.11 $5.11
$3.34 $3.34
52.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.42 $1.42
7.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.24 $30.24
$25.42 $25.42
18.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 $241
$188 $188
28.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$63.7 $63.7
-14.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8 $67.8
$65.2 $65.2
3.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.25 $34.25
$76.7 $76.7
-55.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.74 $24.74
$13.03 $13.03
89.87%
Cinema Ticket
$14.32 $14.32
$14.93 $14.93
-4.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,119 $1,119
$2,063 $2,063
-45.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21K $21K
$39.2K $39.2K
-46.44%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 $54.2
$64.3 $64.3
-15.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 $59.3
$52.4 $52.4
13.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$95.2 $95.2
13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 $123
$145 $145
-15.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,698 $1,698
$2,378 $2,378
-28.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$1,584 $1,584
-19.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,205 $3,205
$4,763 $4,763
-32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,857 $1,857
$2,815 $2,815
-34.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,909 $2,909
$3,588 $3,588
-18.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,476 $2,476
$2,490 $2,490
-0.57%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Knoxville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,513 $3,513
$5,275 $5,275
-33.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
6.6
-0.15%

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

Last update for Knoxville, TN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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