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

😐 Solo nomad: Ashburn, VA is 6.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ashburn, VA is 3.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.83 $19.83
$20.10 $20.10
-1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.6 $79.6
$102 $102
-21.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.30 $13.30
$12.02 $12.02
10.65%
Cappuccino
$5.73 $5.73
$5.62 $5.62
1.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.01 $3.01
-1.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.35 $2.35
9.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.55 $6.55
$6.98 $6.98
-6.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.15 $8.15
$8.45 $8.45
-3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.09 $1.09
-0.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.12 $4.12
-15.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.99 $5.99
$5.57 $5.57
7.54%
Eggs
$4.97 $4.97
$4.51 $4.51
10.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.78 $18.78
$14.42 $14.42
30.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.25 $12.25
$15.02 $15.02
-18.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.85 $22.85
$18.98 $18.98
20.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 $5.54
$5.20 $5.20
6.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.78 $1.78
2.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.15 $7.15
$4.34 $4.34
64.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.70 $6.70
$4.53 $4.53
47.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.55 $2.55
40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$2.71 $2.71
0.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.49 $2.49
-11.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.63 $2.63
-5.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78 $7.78
$15.12 $15.12
-48.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.05 $16.05
$14.91 $14.91
7.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.47 $2.47
-28.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$3.66 $3.66
0.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.57 $2.57
-14.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.9 $70.9
$74.3 $74.3
-4.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.30 $3.30
32.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.37 $1.37
-2.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.28 $29.28
$24.96 $24.96
17.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.06 $1.06
-16.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$31.4K $31.4K
-15.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 $209
$187 $187
12.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$63.0 $63.0
0.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8 $66.8
$65.8 $65.8
1.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.4 $62.4
$75.2 $75.2
-17.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.20 $12.20
$12.95 $12.95
-5.79%
Cinema Ticket
$15.03 $15.03
$15.13 $15.13
-0.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,747 $1,747
$2,067 $2,067
-15.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$38.8K $38.8K
-38.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.65 $47.65
$64.0 $64.0
-25.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.94 $48.94
$50.8 $50.8
-3.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 $98.8
$97.3 $97.3
1.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 $147
$144 $144
2.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,945 $1,945
$2,338 $2,338
-16.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,834 $1,834
$1,614 $1,614
13.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,090 $4,090
$4,764 $4,764
-14.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,258 $2,258
$2,762 $2,762
-18.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 $2,952
$3,766 $3,766
-21.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,083 $3,083
$2,614 $2,614
17.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashburn, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,623 $7,623
$5,006 $5,006
52.27%
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 Ashburn, VA: March 3, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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