Illinois vs. North Carolina Cost of Living Summary

Illinois is 1.0% more expensive than North Carolina.

Restaurants
pay 4.4% more in Illinois
Groceries
pay 12.2% less in Illinois
Transportation
pay 5.7% more in Illinois
Housing
pay 6.3% less in Illinois
Childcare
pay 4.1% more in Illinois
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.0% more in Illinois
Clothing
pay 3.0% more in Illinois

The cost of entertainment and sports, transportation, restaurants, childcare, and clothing in Illinois are more expensive than in North Carolina. Expenses including groceries and housing are lower in Illinois.

Illinois vs. North Carolina Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Illinois instead of North Carolina, you would:

pay 4.4% more for restaurants

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $16.06
 
$16.03
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.06
 
$10.33
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.31
 
$2.49
 

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pay 12.2% less for groceries

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Bread
1 loaf
$3.48
 
$3.19
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.25
 
$5.63
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.46
 
$3.30
 

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pay 5.7% more for transportation

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.19
 
$3.61
 
Monthly public transit pass $53.89
 
$72.95
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $34,400.31
 
$28,096.73
 

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pay 6.3% less for housing

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$72.47
 
$65.96
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,527.81
 
$1,375.37
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,294.23
 
$1,146.99
 

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pay 4.1% more for childcare

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,254.70
 
$1,394.11
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $25,128.75
 
$24,405.00
 

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pay 8.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.09
 
$5.17
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.89
 
$4.81
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$7.33
 
$9.79
 

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pay 3.0% more for clothing

 
North Carolina
Illinois
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$49.88
 
$51.50
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$37.28
 
$41.59
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$86.65
 
$80.60
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: March 2025
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