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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.2% cheaper than Arlington, VA without rent, and 15.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6.6% cheaper than Arlington, VA without rent, and 13.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.54 $24.54

-15.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.5 $88.5

13.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.84 $11.84

1.10%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.41 $5.41

2.77%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.93 $2.93

6.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.5 $2.5

-3.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.02 $8.02

-14.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.82 $8.82

-4.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.24 $1.24

-16.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.1 $4.1

1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.81 $6.81

-18.94%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.32 $4.32

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.79 $17.79

-19.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.75 $14.75

0.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$21.38 $21.38

-9.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.26 $6.26

-17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.06 $2.06

-16.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.22 $5.22

-15.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.71 $5.71

-21.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.44 $3.44

-26.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.39 $3.39

-19.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.65 $2.65

-8.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.45 $2.45

10.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.3 $12.3

23.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.17 $17.17

-4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.03 $2.03

15.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.29 $4.29

-13.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.43 $3.43

-26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$125 $125

-40.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.02 $3.02

10.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.75 $21.75

16.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.70%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

0.71%

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

$188 $188

$205 $205

-8.04%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.8 $59.8

6.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.9 $69.9

-6.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

0.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$23.96 $23.96

-45.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.84 $14.84

0.61%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,074 $2,074

-0.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.4K $39.4K

-0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.9 $55.9

15.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$49.48 $49.48

5.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$92.6 $92.6

2.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$141 $141

2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,473 $2,473

-3.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,930 $1,930

-17.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,350 $4,350

9.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,575 $3,575

-21.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,644 $4,644

-22.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,073 $4,073

-38.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,454 $6,454

-18.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

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