Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 16.1% more expensive than Charlotte.
- Restaurants
-
pay 20.4% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 6.4% less in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 10.2% less in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 7.0% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 79.1% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 33.3% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 3.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Charlotte. Expenses including transportation, housing, and groceries are lower in Chicago. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Charlotte, you would:
pay 20.4% more for restaurants
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.51
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.98
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 6.4% less for groceries
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.82
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.85
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.98
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.89
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.67
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.30
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.82
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.74
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.11
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.94
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.46
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 10.2% less for transportation
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.25
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$99.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,689.37
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.88
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 7.0% less for housing
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$76.11
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,996.88
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,690.12
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.77
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 79.1% more for childcare
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,270.00
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,900.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 33.3% more for entertainment and sports
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.00
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.81
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.50
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.38
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$16.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 3.2% more for clothing
|
Charlotte
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$57.91
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$47.71
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$112.67
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$137.67
|
$146.00
|
|
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