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

🙂 Solo nomad: Sanford, NC is 18.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Sanford, NC is 14.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.93 $15.93

$20.82 $20.82

-23.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 $50.7

$100 $100

-49.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$11.97 $11.97

-17.88%

Cappuccino

$2.32 $2.32

$5.56 $5.56

-58.27%

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

$1.79 $1.79

$3.11 $3.11

-42.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.82 $3.82

$6.86 $6.86

-44.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.52 $7.52

$8.45 $8.45

-11.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.04 $1.04

-4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.15 $4.15

-18.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$5.52 $5.52

-22.64%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$4.65 $4.65

-4.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.9 $16.9

$14.33 $14.33

17.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.43 $16.43

$14.88 $14.88

10.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.83 $16.83

$19.34 $19.34

-12.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$5.17 $5.17

10.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.71 $1.71

-25.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.5 $6.5

$4.41 $4.41

47.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.51 $4.51

-10.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.53 $2.53

46.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.74 $2.74

-0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.43 $2.43

-35.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.7 $2.7

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.55 $7.55

$15.19 $15.19

-50.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$16.42 $16.42

-7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.35 $2.35

-11.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 $3.2

$3.7 $3.7

-13.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.34 $3.34

-8.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.42 $1.42

27.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.89 $29.89

$25.42 $25.42

17.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

6.00%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.93%

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

$141 $141

$188 $188

-24.88%

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

$44.49 $44.49

$63.7 $63.7

-30.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71 $71

$65.2 $65.2

8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.56 $43.56

$76.7 $76.7

-43.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 $13.73

$14.93 $14.93

-8.04%

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

$1,349 $1,349

$2,063 $2,063

-34.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-37.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.86 $49.86

$64.3 $64.3

-22.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.55 $35.55

$52.4 $52.4

-32.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

8.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$145 $145

8.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$2,378 $2,378

-32.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,349 $1,349

$1,584 $1,584

-14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,631 $2,631

$4,763 $4,763

-44.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,204 $2,204

$2,815 $2,815

-21.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,994 $1,994

$3,588 $3,588

-44.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,934 $1,934

$2,490 $2,490

-22.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,562 $3,562

$5,275 $5,275

-32.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Sanford, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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