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

🙂 Solo nomad: Nashville, TN is 3.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Nashville, TN is 9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.88 $17.88
$20.82 $20.82
-14.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6 $80.6
$100 $100
-19.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 $9.81
$11.97 $11.97
-18.05%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$5.56 $5.56
4.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.11 $3.11
-8.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.42 $2.42
2.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.67 $6.67
$6.86 $6.86
-2.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 $8.19
$8.45 $8.45
-3.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.04 $1.04
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$4.2 $4.2
$4.15 $4.15
1.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$5.52 $5.52
-15.76%
Eggs
$3.84 $3.84
$4.65 $4.65
-17.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.73 $11.73
$14.33 $14.33
-18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.66 $15.66
$14.88 $14.88
5.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.2 $16.2
$19.34 $19.34
-16.24%
Apples (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$5.17 $5.17
-13.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.71 $1.71
-15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$4.41 $4.41
30.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$4.51 $4.51
16.85%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.53 $2.53
45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.74 $2.74
51.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.43 $2.43
-15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.7 $2.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.76 $8.76
$15.19 $15.19
-42.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.75 $15.75
$16.42 $16.42
-4.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.35 $2.35
-11.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.7 $3.7
22.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.7 $66.7
$74.1 $74.1
-10.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.34 $3.34
48.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.42 $1.42
7.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.26 $21.26
$25.42 $25.42
-16.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33K $33K
$32.4K $32.4K
1.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$188 $188
6.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$63.7 $63.7
8.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.8 $71.8
$65.2 $65.2
10.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.49 $40.49
$76.7 $76.7
-47.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.76 $17.76
$13.03 $13.03
36.30%
Cinema Ticket
$15.11 $15.11
$14.93 $14.93
1.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,255 $1,255
$2,063 $2,063
-39.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K $30.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-22.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6 $60.6
$64.3 $64.3
-5.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.85 $48.85
$52.4 $52.4
-6.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.7 $91.7
$95.2 $95.2
-3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$145 $145
-5.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,915 $1,915
$2,378 $2,378
-19.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,637 $1,637
$1,584 $1,584
3.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,113 $4,113
$4,763 $4,763
-13.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,033 $3,033
$2,815 $2,815
7.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,579 $3,579
$3,588 $3,588
-0.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,139 $3,139
$2,490 $2,490
26.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nashville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,381 $4,381
$5,275 $5,275
-16.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.6
-1.21%

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

Last update for Nashville, TN: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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