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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Blacksburg, VA is 15.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Blacksburg, VA is 38.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.1 $16.1
$20.82 $20.82
-22.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 $63.4
$100 $100
-36.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.98 $8.98
$11.97 $11.97
-24.98%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$5.56 $5.56
-8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.42 $2.42
-16.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$6.86 $6.86
-14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$8.45 $8.45
-3.67%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.51 $3.51
$4.15 $4.15
-15.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$5.52 $5.52
-23.55%
Eggs
$3.57 $3.57
$4.65 $4.65
-23.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.63 $13.63
$14.33 $14.33
-4.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.2 $11.2
$14.88 $14.88
-24.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.31 $7.31
$19.34 $19.34
-62.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$5.17 $5.17
-17.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.71 $1.71
-3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$4.41 $4.41
-11.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$4.51 $4.51
5.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.53 $2.53
8.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.74 $2.74
-18.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.43 $2.43
-19.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.7 $2.7
-23.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.41 $7.41
$15.19 $15.19
-51.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.13 $15.13
$16.42 $16.42
-7.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.35 $2.35
-23.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.7 $3.7
18.65%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.4 $4.4
$3.34 $3.34
31.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.42 $1.42
19.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.06 $12.06
$25.42 $25.42
-52.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.89%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 $147
$188 $188
-22.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 $32.03
$63.7 $63.7
-49.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$98.9 $98.9
$65.2 $65.2
51.66%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.76 $40.76
$76.7 $76.7
-46.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.2 $10.2
$13.03 $13.03
-21.72%
Cinema Ticket
$12.88 $12.88
$14.93 $14.93
-13.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$874 $874
$2,063 $2,063
-57.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26K $26K
$39.2K $39.2K
-33.63%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.57 $30.57
$64.3 $64.3
-52.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.54 $29.54
$52.4 $52.4
-43.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.2 $61.2
$95.2 $95.2
-35.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74 $74
$145 $145
-48.85%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$2,378 $2,378
-42.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$945 $945
$1,584 $1,584
-40.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 $2,119
$4,763 $4,763
-55.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,901 $1,901
$2,815 $2,815
-32.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,080 $2,080
$3,588 $3,588
-42.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,060 $2,060
$2,490 $2,490
-17.27%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Blacksburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,997 $3,997
$5,275 $5,275
-24.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
6.6
-4.55%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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