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

🙂 Solo nomad: Charleston, WV is 21.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 39.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Charleston, WV is 28.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 43.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.09 $15.09

$20.82 $20.82

-27.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.54 $49.54

$100 $100

-50.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.2 $8.2

$11.97 $11.97

-31.50%

Cappuccino

$2.76 $2.76

$5.56 $5.56

-50.36%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$3.11 $3.11

-28.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.42 $2.42

-10.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$6.86 $6.86

-55.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$8.45 $8.45

-27.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.04 $1.04

-22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.14 $2.14

$4.15 $4.15

-48.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$5.52 $5.52

-70.47%

Eggs

$3.23 $3.23

$4.65 $4.65

-30.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.33 $14.33

-28.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.76 $9.76

$14.88 $14.88

-34.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$19.34 $19.34

-21.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$5.17 $5.17

-17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.71 $1.71

-40.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$4.41 $4.41

-51.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$4.51 $4.51

5.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.9 $1.9

$2.53 $2.53

-24.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.9 $2.9

$2.74 $2.74

5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.43 $2.43

-27.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.7 $2.7

-62.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 $5.94

$15.19 $15.19

-60.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 $9.95

$16.42 $16.42

-39.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$3.7 $3.7

-50.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.53 $2.53

-41.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

$74.1 $74.1

-20.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.34 $3.34

10.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.42 $1.42

-14.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.24 $25.24

$25.42 $25.42

-0.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

7.59%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-3.52%

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

$122 $122

$188 $188

-35.05%

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

$44.9 $44.9

$63.7 $63.7

-29.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 $55.9

$65.2 $65.2

-14.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.28 $31.28

$76.7 $76.7

-59.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 $17.16

$13.03 $13.03

31.70%

Cinema Ticket

$12.04 $12.04

$14.93 $14.93

-19.36%

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

$1,591 $1,591

$2,063 $2,063

-22.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K $17.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-55.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.94 $40.94

$64.3 $64.3

-36.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.95 $39.95

$52.4 $52.4

-23.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87 $87

$95.2 $95.2

-8.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$145 $145

-29.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 $917

$2,378 $2,378

-61.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 $811

$1,584 $1,584

-48.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,800 $1,800

$4,763 $4,763

-62.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 $1,315

$2,815 $2,815

-53.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 $1,091

$3,588 $3,588

-69.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,101 $1,101

$2,490 $2,490

-55.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,429 $3,429

$5,275 $5,275

-35.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.6

-1.06%

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

Last update for Charleston, WV: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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