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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,074 in Beckley, WV.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,077 in Beckley, WV.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,080 in Beckley, WV.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 50% more expensive than in Beckley, WV, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Beckley, WV 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.89 $19.89

0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$76.5 $76.5

15.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.12 $12.12

6.77%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.20 $5.20

6.54%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.65 $2.65

3.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.60 $1.60

47.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.94 $5.94

19.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$5.13 $5.13

70.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.99 $0.99

35.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.58 $3.58

16.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.28 $4.28

33.88%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.17 $4.17

17.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$11.92 $11.92

23.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$6.06 $6.06

145.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$11.29 $11.29

73.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.05 $5.05

10.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.62 $1.62

18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.28 $4.28

-2.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.74 $4.74

2.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.73 $2.73

4.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.05 $3.05

-8.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.09 $2.09

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.29 $2.29

33.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$10.25 $10.25

57.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.20 $15.20

-2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.83 $1.83

38.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.45 $3.45

-2.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.04 $2.04

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$64.4 $64.4

17.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.09 $3.09

6.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.89 $1.89

-28.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$29.76 $29.76

-15.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.03 $1.03

13.59%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$33.9K $33.9K

6.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.0K $27.0K

-2.73%

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

$191 $191

$203 $203

-5.88%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$55.9 $55.9

21.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$69.8 $69.8

-11.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$42.32 $42.32

49.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$14.06 $14.06

28.17%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,303 $1,303

16.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$21.9K $21.9K

43.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$52.9 $52.9

20.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$41.12 $41.12

34.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$88.5 $88.5

13.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$116 $116

32.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,061 $1,061

126.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$759 $759

117.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,508 $1,508

203.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,303 $1,303

112.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,746 $2,746

46.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,352 $2,352

16.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,672 $4,672

2.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.12

4.25%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Beckley, WV: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,061 in Beckley, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Beckley, WV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $352 per month, with Beckley, WV cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Beckley, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beckley, WV wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Beckley, WV the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,061 in Beckley, WV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,074 in Beckley, WV – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Beckley, WV runs roughly 17% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,074 in Beckley, WV versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beckley, WV but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Beckley, WV the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Beckley, WV delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,074 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Beckley, WV hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Beckley, WV gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.