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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shelby, NC is 22.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 37.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Shelby, NC is 42.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 44.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.07 $14.07

$20.82 $20.82

-32.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.14 $35.14

$100 $100

-64.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 $9.43

$11.97 $11.97

-21.22%

Cappuccino

$3.67 $3.67

$5.56 $5.56

-33.99%

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

$1.48 $1.48

$3.11 $3.11

-52.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.42 $2.42

-49.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 $2.44

$6.86 $6.86

-64.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$8.45 $8.45

-65.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.04 $1.04

-24.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 $2.68

$4.15 $4.15

-35.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$5.52 $5.52

-34.06%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.65 $4.65

-7.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.27 $9.27

$14.33 $14.33

-35.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$14.88 $14.88

-14.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.4 $22.4

$19.34 $19.34

15.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 $5.24

$5.17 $5.17

1.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.71 $1.71

2.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.41 $4.41

16.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.51 $4.51

-30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.3 $3.3

$2.53 $2.53

30.43%

Onion (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$2.74 $2.74

66.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.43 $2.43

-16.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.7 $2.7

-30.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.56 $8.56

$15.19 $15.19

-43.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.28 $9.28

$16.42 $16.42

-43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.35 $2.35

-15.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.7 $3.7

-25.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.53 $2.53

-22.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.34 $3.34

-38.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.42 $1.42

68.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.99 $17.99

$25.42 $25.42

-29.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.08 $1.08

-30.56%

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

$24K $24K

$32.4K $32.4K

-25.91%

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

$22.1K $22.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-15.72%

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

$218 $218

$188 $188

15.79%

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

$34.32 $34.32

$63.7 $63.7

-46.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.07 $49.07

$65.2 $65.2

-24.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.49 $43.49

$76.7 $76.7

-43.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.29 $15.29

$14.93 $14.93

2.41%

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

$301 $301

$2,063 $2,063

-85.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.8K $22.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-41.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 $48.53

$64.3 $64.3

-24.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.53 $34.53

$52.4 $52.4

-34.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 $70.2

$95.2 $95.2

-26.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 $78.4

$145 $145

-45.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$2,378 $2,378

-33.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$814 $814

$1,584 $1,584

-48.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,601 $2,601

$4,763 $4,763

-45.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 $1,159

$2,815 $2,815

-58.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,522 $2,522

$3,588 $3,588

-29.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,750 $2,750

$2,490 $2,490

10.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,486 $2,486

$5,275 $5,275

-52.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.6

-3.33%

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

Last update for Shelby, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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