Cost of living comparison
Charlotte is 6.1% cheaper than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 16.9% less in Charlotte
- Groceries
-
pay 10.3% more in Charlotte
- Transportation
-
pay 19.3% more in Charlotte
- Housing
-
pay 10.2% more in Charlotte
- Childcare
-
pay 43.8% less in Charlotte
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 20.0% less in Charlotte
- Clothing
-
pay 2.0% less in Charlotte
The cost of transportation, groceries, and housing in Charlotte are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, and clothing are lower in Charlotte.
If you lived in Charlotte instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 16.9% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$20.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.51
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$1.98
|
|
pay 10.3% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$3.82
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$7.85
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$3.98
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$3.89
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$6.67
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$3.30
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.82
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.74
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.11
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$1.94
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.46
|
|
pay 19.3% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$3.25
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$99.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$34,689.37
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$22.88
|
|
pay 10.2% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$76.11
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$1,996.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$1,690.12
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$144.77
|
|
pay 43.8% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$1,270.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$25,900.00
|
|
pay 20.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$6.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$4.81
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$8.50
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$52.38
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 2.0% less for clothing
|
Chicago
|
Charlotte
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$57.91
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$47.71
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$112.67
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$137.67
|
|
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