Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,490 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 4% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,186
+17% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,258
+8% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,406
+6% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,554
+7% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$315,200
+10% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$75,134
+4% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$54,720
+9% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
35.7 yr
+1.3 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
51.5%
45.5%
+6.0 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
43.3%
+4.1 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
33.5 min
+8.5 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
539.8
+26% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
3,489.9
+6% in Charlotte, NC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
52.7°F
+7.2°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
38.0 in
+3.7 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.29/gal
+11% in Chicago, IL

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
$2.50
+14% in Chicago, IL

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs CTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
23.9
+58% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$15.39
+44% in Charlotte, NC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charlotte, NC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / IL)
4.75%
6.25%
+1.5 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
4.95%
+1.0 pp in IL

Charlotte vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Chicago?
Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Chicago?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).