Cost of Living Comparison Between Winston-Salem, NC and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Winston-Salem, NC and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Winston-Salem, NC is 11.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Winston-Salem, NC is 6.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.56 $19.56

$20.82 $20.82

-6.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$100 $100

-25.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.97 $11.97

-17.13%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$5.56 $5.56

-6.83%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$3.11 $3.11

-23.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.42 $2.42

-17.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.53 $5.53

$6.86 $6.86

-19.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 $5.98

$8.45 $8.45

-29.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.04 $1.04

-16.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.15 $4.15

-0.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$5.52 $5.52

-43.48%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.65 $4.65

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.67 $15.67

$14.33 $14.33

9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.57 $11.57

$14.88 $14.88

-22.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.91 $25.91

$19.34 $19.34

33.97%

Apples (1kg)

$6.73 $6.73

$5.17 $5.17

30.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.71 $1.71

-17.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.41 $4.41

29.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.51 $4.51

35.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.53 $2.53

39.53%

Onion (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$2.74 $2.74

53.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.43 $2.43

-11.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.7 $2.7

-19.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 $5.92

$15.19 $15.19

-61.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 $9.58

$16.42 $16.42

-41.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.35 $2.35

-31.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.7 $3.7

-17.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.53 $2.53

-59.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.1 $65.1

$74.1 $74.1

-12.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.34 $3.34

-25.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.42 $1.42

17.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.13 $15.13

$25.42 $25.42

-40.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-11.40%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.20%

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

$186 $186

$188 $188

-1.09%

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

$52.8 $52.8

$63.7 $63.7

-17.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.4 $69.4

$65.2 $65.2

6.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.64 $17.64

$76.7 $76.7

-77.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.25 $15.25

$13.03 $13.03

17.04%

Cinema Ticket

$13.17 $13.17

$14.93 $14.93

-11.79%

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

$1,474 $1,474

$2,063 $2,063

-28.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.79 $46.79

$64.3 $64.3

-27.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.32 $22.32

$52.4 $52.4

-57.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.8 $66.8

$95.2 $95.2

-29.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$145 $145

-29.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,519 $1,519

$2,378 $2,378

-36.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,093 $1,093

$1,584 $1,584

-31.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$4,763 $4,763

-51.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,736 $1,736

$2,815 $2,815

-38.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,557 $9,557

$3,588 $3,588

166.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,011 $5,011

$2,490 $2,490

101.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,625 $3,625

$5,275 $5,275

-31.28%

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 Winston-Salem, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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