Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pikeville, TN: $2,692 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pikeville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,692
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pikeville, TN and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pikeville, TN and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,692 per month in Pikeville, TN vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Pikeville, TN $2,692
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,989 per month in Pikeville, TN vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Pikeville, TN $3,989
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,286 per month in Pikeville, TN vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Pikeville, TN $5,286
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Pikeville, TN is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Pikeville, TN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Pikeville, TN by 99%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$20.65 $20.65
-3.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9 $74.9
$90.2 $90.2
-16.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.53 $11.53
$12.94 $12.94
-10.90%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$5.60 $5.60
-5.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.64 $2.64
3.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.27 $2.27
-11.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 $5.88
$6.98 $6.98
-15.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.40 $7.40
$8.83 $8.83
-16.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.27 $1.27
-18.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.80 $3.80
-29.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.92 $6.92
$5.30 $5.30
30.57%
Eggs
$4.33 $4.33
$4.76 $4.76
-9.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.57 $9.57
$13.96 $13.96
-31.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.54 $14.54
$14.61 $14.61
-0.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.54 $25.54
$18.77 $18.77
36.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$5.19 $5.19
-34.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.98 $1.98
40.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.62 $8.62
$3.93 $3.93
119.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.51 $7.51
$4.96 $4.96
51.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.76 $2.76
-0.36%
Onion (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$2.76 $2.76
108.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.22 $2.22
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.98 $2.98
-34.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.99 $9.99
$14.02 $14.02
-28.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 $15.30
$15.28 $15.28
0.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.58 $2.58
-24.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.50 $3.50
-4.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.47 $2.47
-19.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.07 $49.07
$74.8 $74.8
-34.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$3.34 $3.34
-8.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.43 $1.43
8.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.12 $30.12
$24.32 $24.32
23.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.26 $1.26
-19.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$35.0K $35.0K
-19.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.1K $26.1K
1.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 $199
$193 $193
3.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.8 $58.8
$68.3 $68.3
-13.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$61.3 $61.3
11.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 $42.15
$54.1 $54.1
-22.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.36 $30.36
$27.92 $27.92
8.74%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 $13.73
$17.74 $17.74
-22.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,330 $1,330
$1,652 $1,652
-19.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$31.1K $31.1K
-32.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$66.1 $66.1
-18.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.68 $40.68
$51.2 $51.2
-20.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 $89.8
$100 $100
-10.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$141 $141
-17.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,610 $1,610
$2,446 $2,446
-34.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,308 $1,308
$1,678 $1,678
-22.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,717 $4,717
-47.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,184 $2,184
$2,795 $2,795
-21.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,322 $2,322
$4,105 $4,105
-43.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,599 $2,599
$2,650 $2,650
-1.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pikeville, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,866 $4,866
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.81
-3.52%

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

Last update for Pikeville, TN: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pikeville, TN
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 28.3% $370
Groceries & Markets
Pikeville, TN
$465
Chicago, IL
$449 3.4% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pikeville, TN
$326
Chicago, IL
$322 1.2% $4
Eating Out
Pikeville, TN
$320
Chicago, IL
$343 7.3% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Pikeville, TN
$135
Chicago, IL
$161 19.4% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Pikeville, TN
$70
Chicago, IL
$90 28.7% $20
Getting Around
Pikeville, TN
$68
Chicago, IL
$95 40.2% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,610 in Pikeville, TN versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Pikeville, TN versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $465 in Pikeville, TN vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Pikeville, TN
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
03:10 3:10 AM
03:10 3:10 AM
Same time as Pikeville, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,600
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pikeville, TN Chicago, IL 730 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pikeville, TN
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Pikeville, TN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Pikeville, TN and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,692 in Pikeville, TN, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Pikeville, TN compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,038 per month in Pikeville, TN and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Pikeville, TN and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pikeville, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Pikeville, TN and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,692 in Pikeville, TN and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Pikeville, TN and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,692 in Pikeville, TN to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Pikeville, TN or Chicago, IL safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Pikeville, TN and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Pikeville, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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