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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.8% more expensive than Ashburn, VA without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2.2% more expensive than Ashburn, VA without rent, and 10% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.31 $20.31
2.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.1 $79.1
26.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.29 $13.29
-9.93%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.9 $5.9
-5.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.96 $2.96
5.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.48 $2.48
-2.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.44 $6.44
6.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.84 $7.84
7.78%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.13 $1.13
-7.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.48 $3.48
19.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.88 $5.88
-6.12%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.9 $4.9
-5.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$18.85 $18.85
-23.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.56 $12.56
18.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.62 $22.62
-14.50%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.57 $5.57
-7.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.81 $1.81
-5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$7.27 $7.27
-39.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.73 $6.73
-32.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.44 $3.44
-26.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.19 $2.19
10.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.41 $2.41
12.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.98 $7.98
90.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.11 $16.11
1.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.7 $1.7
38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.77 $3.77
-1.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.3 $2.3
10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$71.7 $71.7
3.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.39 $4.39
-23.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.4 $1.4
1.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.87 $28.87
-11.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.8K $26.8K
20.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$206 $206
-8.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$63.3 $63.3
0.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68 $68
-4.12%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$61.1 $61.1
25.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$12.2 $12.2
6.80%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.82 $14.82
0.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,721 $1,721
19.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24K $24K
63.27%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$48.29 $48.29
33.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$48.2 $48.2
8.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$101 $101
-5.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$142 $142
1.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,900 $1,900
25.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,830 $1,830
-13.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,060 $4,060
17.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,301 $2,301
22.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,925 $2,925
22.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$3,161 $3,161
-21.23%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Ashburn, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,919 $6,919
-23.76%
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 Ashburn, VA: October 29, 2025

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