Cost of Living Comparison Between Beckley, WV and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Beckley, WV and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,549 in Beckley, WV versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,754 in Beckley, WV versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,960 in Beckley, WV versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Beckley, WV costs roughly 17% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Beckley, WV 90% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.88 $18.88

$20.91 $20.91

-9.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$98.1 $98.1

-23.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 $11.17

$11.86 $11.86

-5.82%

Cappuccino

$5.13 $5.13

$5.60 $5.60

-8.39%

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

$2.24 $2.24

$3.07 $3.07

-27.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.47 $2.47

-16.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$7.14 $7.14

-13.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.63 $6.63

$8.08 $8.08

-17.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.05 $1.05

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.11 $4.11

-16.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$5.61 $5.61

-20.86%

Eggs

$4.13 $4.13

$4.51 $4.51

-8.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 $12.21

$14.27 $14.27

-14.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$14.89 $14.89

-59.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 $11.55

$19.19 $19.19

-39.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$5.14 $5.14

-5.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.77 $1.77

-10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$4.39 $4.39

-2.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$4.56 $4.56

1.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.54 $2.54

14.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.75 $2.75

4.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.42 $2.42

-15.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.62 $2.62

-19.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.85 $9.85

$14.92 $14.92

-33.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.80 $14.80

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.46 $2.46

-27.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.73 $3.73

-9.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.48 $2.48

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.1 $65.1

$75.4 $75.4

-13.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.18 $3.18

9.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.42 $1.42

16.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.54 $29.54

$24.94 $24.94

18.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.06 $1.06

-14.15%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-7.86%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.07%

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

$187 $187

$185 $185

1.08%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$61.7 $61.7

-13.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.9 $64.9

$66.9 $66.9

-3.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.76 $42.76

$75.2 $75.2

-43.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$13.60 $13.60

$14.71 $14.71

-7.55%

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

$1,278 $1,278

$2,020 $2,020

-36.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$39.4K $39.4K

-39.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$64.6 $64.6

-22.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.74 $39.74

$52.5 $52.5

-24.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 $87.8

$97.8 $97.8

-10.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$148 $148

-24.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$2,313 $2,313

-29.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 $1,344

$1,590 $1,590

-15.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,599 $2,599

$4,608 $4,608

-43.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 $2,203

$2,779 $2,779

-20.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,690 $2,690

$3,922 $3,922

-31.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,360 $2,360

$2,613 $2,613

-9.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,599 $4,599

$5,217 $5,217

-11.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Beckley, WV: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Beckley, WV and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $75.0 in Beckley, WV vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $447 per month, with Beckley, WV cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Beckley, WV vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beckley, WV wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Beckley, WV the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Chicago, IL earns 13% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Beckley, WV versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,549 per month in Beckley, WV versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Beckley, WV runs roughly 16% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Beckley, WV is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Beckley, WV delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,549 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Beckley, WV hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Beckley, WV gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.