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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $4,008 in Centreville, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $6,009 in Centreville, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $8,010 in Centreville, VA.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 24% less than in Centreville, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Centreville, VA 199% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$23.97 $23.97

-13.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$118 $118

-14.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$13.21 $13.21

-10.22%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.71 $5.71

-2.98%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.02 $3.02

1.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.57 $2.57

-3.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.35 $6.35

8.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.90 $7.90

2.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.26 $1.26

-17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.71 $3.71

5.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$7.11 $7.11

-23.77%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.03 $4.03

11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$19.13 $19.13

-24.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$14.92 $14.92

1.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$24.03 $24.03

-19.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.48 $7.48

-27.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.83 $1.83

-7.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$8.15 $8.15

-46.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$11.02 $11.02

-59.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.85 $4.85

-47.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.66 $3.66

-26.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$3.59 $3.59

-32.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.24 $3.24

-19.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$11.46 $11.46

31.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$17.65 $17.65

-16.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.75 $1.75

41.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.73 $3.73

-1.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$4.41 $4.41

-42.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$197 $197

-61.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.88 $2.88

14.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.33 $1.33

7.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$24.73 $24.73

-0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$30.6K $30.6K

3.91%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

6.39%

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

$183 $183

$220 $220

-16.80%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$52.5 $52.5

17.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$70.7 $70.7

-7.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$99.2 $99.2

-23.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$49.23 $49.23

-73.51%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$15.10 $15.10

-2.32%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,895 $1,895

8.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$36.2K $36.2K

6.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$56.7 $56.7

12.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$54.4 $54.4

-5.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$118 $118

-17.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$122 $122

20.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$2,782 $2,782

-15.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$2,182 $2,182

-27.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$4,545 $4,545

3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$3,678 $3,678

-26.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$3,826 $3,826

3.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,982 $2,982

-11.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$5,434 $5,434

-13.08%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Centreville, VA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $2,782 in Centreville, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Centreville, VA pays 15% 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: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $118 in Centreville, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $561 per month, with Chicago, IL 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 Centreville, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Centreville, VA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chicago, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Centreville, VA earns 15% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $2,782 in Centreville, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Centreville, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $100 versus $118 in Centreville, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Chicago, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,051 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chicago, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Centreville, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.