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

😐 Solo nomad: Charlottesville, VA is 27.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Charlottesville, VA is 25.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.56 $22.56

$20.82 $20.82

8.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$100 $100

18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.79 $12.79

$11.97 $11.97

6.85%

Cappuccino

$5.27 $5.27

$5.56 $5.56

-5.22%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$3.11 $3.11

-7.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.42 $2.42

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.86 $6.86

-12.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.16 $6.16

$8.45 $8.45

-27.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.04 $1.04

14.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.15 $4.15

-13.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.52 $5.52

26.63%

Eggs

$6.16 $6.16

$4.65 $4.65

32.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.33 $14.33

34.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.63 $19.63

$14.88 $14.88

31.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.77 $17.77

$19.34 $19.34

-8.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.84 $7.84

$5.17 $5.17

51.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.71 $1.71

70.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.13 $8.13

$4.41 $4.41

84.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.16 $11.16

$4.51 $4.51

147.45%

Potato (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$2.53 $2.53

87.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.74 $2.74

35.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.43 $2.43

15.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.1 $3.1

$2.7 $2.7

14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.77 $7.77

$15.19 $15.19

-48.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.88 $15.88

$16.42 $16.42

-3.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.35 $2.35

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.7 $3.7

3.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$147 $147

$74.1 $74.1

98.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.34 $3.34

38.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.42 $1.42

70.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.99 $28.99

$25.42 $25.42

14.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.08 $1.08

-22.22%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$32.4K $32.4K

-18.44%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.50%

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

$284 $284

$188 $188

50.77%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$63.7 $63.7

-16.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$109 $109

$65.2 $65.2

66.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.5 $71.5

$76.7 $76.7

-6.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.52 $15.52

$14.93 $14.93

3.95%

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

$1,409 $1,409

$2,063 $2,063

-31.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.12 $48.12

$64.3 $64.3

-25.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.61 $48.61

$52.4 $52.4

-7.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 $96.4

$95.2 $95.2

1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$145 $145

-16.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,820 $1,820

$2,378 $2,378

-23.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 $1,589

$1,584 $1,584

0.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,930 $2,930

$4,763 $4,763

-38.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,668 $2,668

$2,815 $2,815

-5.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,825 $2,825

$3,588 $3,588

-21.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,747 $2,747

$2,490 $2,490

10.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,607 $4,607

$5,275 $5,275

-12.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.6

-4.24%

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

Last update for Charlottesville, VA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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