Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Raleigh, NC is 9.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Raleigh, NC is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$20.82 $20.82

-4.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 $74.2

$100 $100

-26.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 $10.11

$11.97 $11.97

-15.54%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.56 $5.56

-3.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$3.11 $3.11

-24.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.42 $2.42

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.74 $5.74

$6.86 $6.86

-16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 $6.13

$8.45 $8.45

-27.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.04 $1.04

-18.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.15 $4.15

-3.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$5.52 $5.52

-42.39%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.65 $4.65

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.63 $13.63

$14.33 $14.33

-4.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.46 $11.46

$14.88 $14.88

-22.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.81 $16.81

$19.34 $19.34

-13.08%

Apples (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$5.17 $5.17

29.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.71 $1.71

-14.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$4.41 $4.41

30.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.51 $4.51

39.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.53 $2.53

45.06%

Onion (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$2.74 $2.74

53.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.43 $2.43

-9.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.7 $2.7

-16.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.42 $7.42

$15.19 $15.19

-51.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$16.42 $16.42

-10.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.35 $2.35

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.7 $3.7

-18.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.36 $45.36

$74.1 $74.1

-38.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.34 $3.34

-26.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.42 $1.42

22.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.73 $14.73

$25.42 $25.42

-42.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.8 $0.8

$1.08 $1.08

-25.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$185 $185

$188 $188

-1.94%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.9 $63.9

$63.7 $63.7

0.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 $70.2

$65.2 $65.2

7.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.69 $40.69

$76.7 $76.7

-46.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.1 $34.1

$13.03 $13.03

161.70%

Cinema Ticket

$15.2 $15.2

$14.93 $14.93

1.81%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,492 $1,492

$2,063 $2,063

-27.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

-37.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$64.3 $64.3

-19.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.69 $48.69

$52.4 $52.4

-7.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 $98.6

$95.2 $95.2

3.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$145 $145

-1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,828 $1,828

$2,378 $2,378

-23.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,539 $1,539

$1,584 $1,584

-2.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,992 $2,992

$4,763 $4,763

-37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,400 $2,400

$2,815 $2,815

-14.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,093 $3,093

$3,588 $3,588

-13.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,505 $2,505

$2,490 $2,490

0.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,392 $4,392

$5,275 $5,275

-16.73%

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 Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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