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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.1% more expensive than Blacksburg, VA without rent, and 45.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 63.6% more expensive than Blacksburg, VA without rent, and 46.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.1 $16.1
29.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$63.4 $63.4
58.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.98 $8.98
33.30%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.07 $5.07
9.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.53 $2.53
22.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.02 $2.02
19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.85 $5.85
17.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.14 $8.14
3.81%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.99 $0.99
5.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.51 $3.51
18.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.22 $4.22
30.81%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.57 $3.57
30.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.63 $13.63
5.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.2 $11.2
32.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$7.31 $7.31
164.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.27 $4.27
21.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.65 $1.65
3.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.89 $3.89
13.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.75 $4.75
-5.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.74 $2.74
-7.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.24 $2.24
22.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.96 $1.96
23.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.06 $2.06
31.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.41 $7.41
104.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.13 $15.13
8.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.8 $1.8
30.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.39 $4.39
-15.72%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.4 $4.4
-24.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.7 $1.7
-16.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$12.06 $12.06
110.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.3K $25.3K
28.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
9.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$147 $147
28.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$32.03 $32.03
98.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$98.9 $98.9
-34.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.76 $40.76
88.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$10.2 $10.2
27.75%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.88 $12.88
15.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$874 $874
135.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$26K $26K
50.66%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$30.57 $30.57
110.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$29.54 $29.54
77.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$61.2 $61.2
55.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$74 $74
95.51%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,360 $1,360
74.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$945 $945
67.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,119 $2,119
124.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,901 $1,901
48.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,080 $2,080
72.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,060 $2,060
20.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Blacksburg, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,997 $3,997
31.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.3
4.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Blacksburg, VA: October 28, 2025

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