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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,137 in Bristol, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,076 in Bristol, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,015 in Bristol, VA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 44% more expensive than Bristol, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Bristol, VA 60% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.09 $18.09

15.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$76.2 $76.2

28.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.14 $10.14

16.96%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.98 $4.98

12.45%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.29 $2.29

34.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.73 $1.73

42.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.89 $4.89

46.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.18 $7.18

12.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.01 $1.01

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.26 $3.26

26.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.04 $4.04

38.86%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.43 $4.43

1.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.82 $16.82

-15.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$16.98 $16.98

-12.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.22 $17.22

11.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.78 $5.78

-11.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.31 $1.31

35.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.58 $6.58

-33.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.87 $3.87

17.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.72 $3.72

-31.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.80 $2.80

-1.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.81 $1.81

33.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.86 $1.86

40.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$7.85 $7.85

90.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.26 $15.26

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.13 $2.13

15.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.29 $3.29

13.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.04 $3.04

4.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.26 $2.26

-37.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.96 $29.96

-16.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.85 $0.85

24.71%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.5K $34.5K

-7.53%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.5K $23.5K

10.67%

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

$185 $185

$138 $138

34.09%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$54.2 $54.2

13.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$69.9 $69.9

-4.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.68 $43.68

72.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$13.81 $13.81

6.52%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,314 $1,314

53.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$24.7K $24.7K

59.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$49.23 $49.23

31.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$36.28 $36.28

44.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$44.48 $44.48

119.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$90.9 $90.9

62.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$997 $997

131.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$911 $911

74.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,644 $1,644

180.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,264 $1,264

119.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,825 $1,825

114.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,791 $1,791

45.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$2,970 $2,970

75.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bristol, VA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $997 in Bristol, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 76% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Bristol, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $440 per month, with Bristol, VA 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 Bristol, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Bristol, VA differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $2,137 including rent). Bristol, VA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 76% more on average, 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $997 in Bristol, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,314 in Bristol, VA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bristol, VA – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,137 in Bristol, VA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Bristol, VA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Bristol, VA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bristol, VA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.