Cost of Living Comparison Between Charles Town, WV and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Charles Town, WV and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Charles Town, WV is 10.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Charles Town, WV is 14.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.74 $22.74
$20.82 $20.82
9.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9 $58.9
$100 $100
-41.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.12 $13.12
$11.97 $11.97
9.61%
Cappuccino
$4.05 $4.05
$5.56 $5.56
-27.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$3.11 $3.11
-3.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.42 $2.42
-16.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.12 $5.12
$6.86 $6.86
-25.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.69 $7.69
$8.45 $8.45
-8.99%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.15 $4.15
-11.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.18 $7.18
$5.52 $5.52
30.07%
Eggs
$6.59 $6.59
$4.65 $4.65
41.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.08 $19.08
$14.33 $14.33
33.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.85 $10.85
$14.88 $14.88
-27.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.38 $15.38
$19.34 $19.34
-20.48%
Apples (1kg)
$7.11 $7.11
$5.17 $5.17
37.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.71 $1.71
-24.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.6 $5.6
$4.41 $4.41
26.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$11.23 $11.23
$4.51 $4.51
149.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.53 $2.53
13.44%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.74 $2.74
30.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.43 $2.43
14.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.7 $2.7
18.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.85 $7.85
$15.19 $15.19
-48.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.68 $16.68
$16.42 $16.42
1.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.35 $2.35
-27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.6 $3.6
$3.7 $3.7
-2.70%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.52 $4.52
$3.34 $3.34
35.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.42 $1.42
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.63 $28.63
$25.42 $25.42
12.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-19.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22K $22K
$26.2K $26.2K
-16.23%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$188 $188
15.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3 $52.3
$63.7 $63.7
-17.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3 $67.3
$65.2 $65.2
3.25%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.73 $43.73
$76.7 $76.7
-43.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.38 $15.38
$14.93 $14.93
3.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,816 $1,816
$2,063 $2,063
-11.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.81%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.51 $47.51
$64.3 $64.3
-26.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.4 $47.4
$52.4 $52.4
-9.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 $117
$95.2 $95.2
22.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$145 $145
-16.56%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,572 $1,572
$2,378 $2,378
-33.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 $1,370
$1,584 $1,584
-13.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 $2,670
$4,763 $4,763
-43.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,249 $2,249
$2,815 $2,815
-20.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,576 $2,576
$3,588 $3,588
-28.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,328 $2,328
$2,490 $2,490
-6.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Charles Town, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.6
-24.24%

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

Last update for Charles Town, WV: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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