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

🙂 Solo nomad: Sylva, NC is 16.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Sylva, NC is 15.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.92 $21.92
$20.82 $20.82
5.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 $60.7
$100 $100
-39.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.07 $9.07
$11.97 $11.97
-24.23%
Cappuccino
$5.08 $5.08
$5.56 $5.56
-8.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$3.11 $3.11
-19.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.62 $6.62
$6.86 $6.86
-3.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96 $7.96
$8.45 $8.45
-5.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$1.04 $1.04
-36.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$4.15 $4.15
-12.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$5.52 $5.52
-17.39%
Eggs
$4.42 $4.42
$4.65 $4.65
-4.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.6 $8.6
$14.33 $14.33
-39.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.68 $9.68
$14.88 $14.88
-34.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.6 $19.6
$19.34 $19.34
1.34%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$5.17 $5.17
-5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.71 $1.71
-1.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$4.41 $4.41
0.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$4.51 $4.51
-12.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.53 $2.53
44.27%
Onion (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$2.74 $2.74
28.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.43 $2.43
-2.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.7 $2.7
-24.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.15 $6.15
$15.19 $15.19
-59.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$16.42 $16.42
-10.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.6 $1.6
$3.7 $3.7
-56.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 $2.99
$3.34 $3.34
-10.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.42 $1.42
33.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.38 $39.38
$25.42 $25.42
54.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K $23.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-28.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8K $22.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-13.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$288 $288
$188 $188
53.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$63.7 $63.7
-14.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.88 $49.88
$65.2 $65.2
-23.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.5 $42.5
$76.7 $76.7
-44.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 $14.84
$14.93 $14.93
-0.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,319 $1,319
$2,063 $2,063
-36.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.5K $29.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-24.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.48 $25.48
$64.3 $64.3
-60.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.11 $39.11
$52.4 $52.4
-25.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.1 $35.1
$95.2 $95.2
-63.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.1 $64.1
$145 $145
-55.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$2,378 $2,378
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,362 $1,362
$1,584 $1,584
-14.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,677 $2,677
$4,763 $4,763
-43.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,211 $2,211
$2,815 $2,815
-21.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,555 $2,555
$3,588 $3,588
-28.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,402 $2,402
$2,490 $2,490
-3.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sylva, NC
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%

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

Last update for Sylva, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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