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

🙂 Solo nomad: Wilmington, NC is 6.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Wilmington, NC is 19.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 $15.06

$20.82 $20.82

-27.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 $80.2

$100 $100

-20.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 $11.15

$11.97 $11.97

-6.85%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.56 $5.56

-5.76%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$3.11 $3.11

-24.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.42 $2.42

-5.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.92 $3.92

$6.86 $6.86

-42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.93 $5.93

$8.45 $8.45

-29.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.04 $1.04

-10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.15 $4.15

-3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$5.52 $5.52

12.68%

Eggs

$5.67 $5.67

$4.65 $4.65

21.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.48 $10.48

$14.33 $14.33

-26.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.29 $19.29

$14.88 $14.88

29.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.72 $22.72

$19.34 $19.34

17.48%

Apples (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$5.17 $5.17

44.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.71 $1.71

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.8 $5.8

$4.41 $4.41

31.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.4 $5.4

$4.51 $4.51

19.73%

Potato (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$2.53 $2.53

66.40%

Onion (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$2.74 $2.74

113.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.43 $2.43

-5.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.7 $2.7

19.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.6 $7.6

$15.19 $15.19

-49.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.19 $16.19

$16.42 $16.42

-1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.35 $2.35

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 $5.01

$3.7 $3.7

35.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79 $79

$74.1 $74.1

6.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.34 $3.34

18.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.42 $1.42

7.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.5 $29.5

$25.42 $25.42

16.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.08 $1.08

-26.85%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-10.14%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.73%

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

$184 $184

$188 $188

-2.47%

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

$53 $53

$63.7 $63.7

-16.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$65.2 $65.2

6.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.1 $61.1

$76.7 $76.7

-20.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 $12.23

$14.93 $14.93

-18.08%

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

$1,437 $1,437

$2,063 $2,063

-30.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 $55.9

$64.3 $64.3

-13.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.1 $48.1

$52.4 $52.4

-8.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

9.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$145 $145

-20.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 $1,385

$2,378 $2,378

-41.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 $1,205

$1,584 $1,584

-23.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,413 $2,413

$4,763 $4,763

-49.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,879 $1,879

$2,815 $2,815

-33.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 $2,925

$3,588 $3,588

-18.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,860 $2,860

$2,490 $2,490

14.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,121 $4,121

$5,275 $5,275

-21.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Wilmington, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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