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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.8% more expensive than Alexandria, VA without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.4% more expensive than Alexandria, VA without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.12 $20.12

3.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.8 $80.8

24.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.82 $9.82

21.89%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.88 $4.88

13.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.42 $2.42

28.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.11 $2.11

14.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.87 $5.87

16.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.61 $7.61

11.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.01 $1.01

2.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.59 $3.59

15.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.93 $5.93

-6.91%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.03 $5.03

-7.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$18.76 $18.76

-23.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.06 $10.06

47.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.81 $15.81

22.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.92 $6.92

-25.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.84 $1.84

-7.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.08 $7.08

-37.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.76 $6.76

-33.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.57 $3.57

-29.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.98 $2.98

-8.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.49 $2.49

-2.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.67 $2.67

1.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.02 $8.02

89.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.31 $14.31

14.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.66 $3.66

1.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.05 $3.05

-17.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$78.4 $78.4

-5.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.75 $1.75

90.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$23.76 $23.76

6.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

26.32%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.98%

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

$188 $188

$175 $175

7.84%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52.7 $52.7

20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.4 $66.4

-1.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$72.6 $72.6

5.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.77 $14.77

1.08%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,299 $1,299

58.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

61.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.4 $51.4

25.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.78 $47.78

9.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$97.5 $97.5

-2.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$111 $111

30.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,324 $2,324

2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,891 $1,891

-16.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,568 $3,568

33.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,874 $2,874

-2.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,334 $4,334

-17.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,913 $3,913

-36.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,138 $6,138

-14.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alexandria, VA: October 29, 2025

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