Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, VA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, VA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Alexandria, VA is 4.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alexandria, VA is 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.12 $20.12

$20.82 $20.82

-3.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.8 $80.8

$100 $100

-19.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$11.97 $11.97

-17.96%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.56 $5.56

-12.23%

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

$2.42 $2.42

$3.11 $3.11

-22.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.42 $2.42

-12.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.86 $6.86

-14.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 $7.61

$8.45 $8.45

-9.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.04 $1.04

-2.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.15 $4.15

-13.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$5.52 $5.52

7.43%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$4.65 $4.65

8.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.76 $18.76

$14.33 $14.33

30.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.06 $10.06

$14.88 $14.88

-32.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.81 $15.81

$19.34 $19.34

-18.25%

Apples (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.17 $5.17

33.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.71 $1.71

7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.08 $7.08

$4.41 $4.41

60.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.76 $6.76

$4.51 $4.51

49.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.53 $2.53

41.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.74 $2.74

8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.43 $2.43

2.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.7 $2.7

-1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.02 $8.02

$15.19 $15.19

-47.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.31 $14.31

$16.42 $16.42

-12.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.35 $2.35

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.7 $3.7

-1.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.53 $2.53

20.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.4 $78.4

$74.1 $74.1

5.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 $1.75

$3.34 $3.34

-47.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.42 $1.42

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.76 $23.76

$25.42 $25.42

-6.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-20.84%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.64%

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

$175 $175

$188 $188

-7.27%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$63.7 $63.7

-17.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$65.2 $65.2

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 $72.6

$76.7 $76.7

-5.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 $14.77

$14.93 $14.93

-1.07%

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

$1,299 $1,299

$2,063 $2,063

-37.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-37.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 $51.4

$64.3 $64.3

-20.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.78 $47.78

$52.4 $52.4

-8.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 $97.5

$95.2 $95.2

2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$145 $145

-23.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 $2,324

$2,378 $2,378

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,891 $1,891

$1,584 $1,584

19.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,568 $3,568

$4,763 $4,763

-25.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,874 $2,874

$2,815 $2,815

2.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,334 $4,334

$3,588 $3,588

20.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,913 $3,913

$2,490 $2,490

57.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,138 $6,138

$5,275 $5,275

16.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alexandria, VA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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