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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,136 in Bristol, VA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,052 in Bristol, VA versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,968 in Bristol, VA versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Bristol, VA costs roughly 30% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bristol, VA 60% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 $17.85

$20.17 $20.17

-11.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.4 $76.4

$99.5 $99.5

-23.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$12.23 $12.23

-18.40%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.60 $5.60

-10.89%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$3.12 $3.12

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.43 $2.43

-26.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.93 $6.93

-29.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.20 $8.20

-16.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.97 $3.97

-19.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$5.58 $5.58

-30.82%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$4.47 $4.47

4.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.65 $16.65

$14.50 $14.50

14.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$15.08 $15.08

10.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$19.34 $19.34

-10.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.70 $5.70

$5.37 $5.37

6.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.76 $1.76

-28.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$4.32 $4.32

54.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.41 $4.41

-8.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.54 $2.54

46.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.70 $2.70

3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.49 $2.49

-27.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.60 $2.60

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.24 $8.24

$14.80 $14.80

-44.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$15.18 $15.18

0.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.47 $2.47

-13.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.60 $3.60

-9.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.54 $2.54

-20.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.30 $3.30

-8.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.38 $1.38

71.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.31 $30.31

$25.36 $25.36

19.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.09 $1.09

-23.85%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$31.6K $31.6K

11.60%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$26.6K $26.6K

-11.20%

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

$139 $139

$186 $186

-25.44%

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

$54.3 $54.3

$62.9 $62.9

-13.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$66.2 $66.2

4.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.65 $43.65

$77.6 $77.6

-43.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.20 $14.20

$14.74 $14.74

-3.66%

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

$1,338 $1,338

$2,039 $2,039

-34.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K $24.3K

$39.9K $39.9K

-38.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.77 $49.77

$63.9 $63.9

-22.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.57 $35.57

$51.2 $51.2

-30.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.57 $45.57

$95.2 $95.2

-52.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.5 $91.5

$144 $144

-36.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 $1,008

$2,305 $2,305

-56.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$913 $913

$1,575 $1,575

-42.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 $1,660

$4,688 $4,688

-64.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 $1,292

$2,737 $2,737

-52.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,801 $1,801

$4,063 $4,063

-55.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,798 $1,798

$2,696 $2,696

-33.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,946 $2,946

$5,019 $5,019

-41.30%

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 Bristol, VA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,008 in Bristol, VA and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 70% 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: $76.0 in Bristol, VA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $440 vs $448 per month, with Bristol, VA 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

Bristol, VA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bristol, VA and Chicago, IL differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($2,136 vs $3,068 including rent). Bristol, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Chicago, IL. 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: $1,008 in Bristol, VA versus $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,338 in Bristol, VA versus $2,039 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bristol, VA – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,136 in Bristol, VA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bristol, VA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Bristol, VA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bristol, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.