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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Memphis, TN is 19% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Memphis, TN is 17.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.11 $19.11
$20.82 $20.82
-8.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.6 $74.6
$100 $100
-25.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.2 $10.2
$11.97 $11.97
-14.79%
Cappuccino
$5.3 $5.3
$5.56 $5.56
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.11 $3.11
-20.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.42 $2.42
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.16 $6.16
$6.86 $6.86
-10.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96 $7.96
$8.45 $8.45
-5.80%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.04 $1.04
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.15 $4.15
-33.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$5.52 $5.52
-18.12%
Eggs
$4.11 $4.11
$4.65 $4.65
-11.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.26 $11.26
$14.33 $14.33
-21.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.7 $10.7
$14.88 $14.88
-28.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.67 $15.67
$19.34 $19.34
-18.98%
Apples (1kg)
$6.28 $6.28
$5.17 $5.17
21.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.71 $1.71
-6.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$4.41 $4.41
19.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$4.51 $4.51
4.43%
Potato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.53 $2.53
94.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.74 $2.74
27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.43 $2.43
-6.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.7 $2.7
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.91 $7.91
$15.19 $15.19
-47.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.75 $14.75
$16.42 $16.42
-10.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$3.7 $3.7
-48.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.53 $2.53
-51.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.31 $12.31
$74.1 $74.1
-83.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$3.34 $3.34
-41.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.42 $1.42
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.93 $19.93
$25.42 $25.42
-21.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.08 $1.08
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K $32.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$188 $188
15.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$63.7 $63.7
-7.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.6 $66.6
$65.2 $65.2
2.19%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.25 $38.25
$76.7 $76.7
-50.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.05 $18.05
$13.03 $13.03
38.53%
Cinema Ticket
$12.62 $12.62
$14.93 $14.93
-15.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,570 $1,570
$2,063 $2,063
-23.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.3K $27.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-30.37%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.14 $40.14
$64.3 $64.3
-37.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.92 $31.92
$52.4 $52.4
-39.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.6 $73.6
$95.2 $95.2
-22.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$145 $145
-4.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,178 $1,178
$2,378 $2,378
-50.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,123 $1,123
$1,584 $1,584
-29.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 $1,564
$4,763 $4,763
-67.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,637 $1,637
$2,815 $2,815
-41.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,481 $1,481
$3,588 $3,588
-58.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,514 $1,514
$2,490 $2,490
-39.20%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Memphis, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,407 $3,407
$5,275 $5,275
-35.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for Memphis, TN: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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