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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 27.9% more expensive than Charleston, WV without rent, and 65.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 40.7% more expensive than Charleston, WV without rent, and 76.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.09 $15.09

37.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$49.54 $49.54

102.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.2 $8.2

45.98%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$2.76 $2.76

101.45%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.22 $2.22

40.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.17 $2.17

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.04 $3.04

125.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.16 $6.16

37.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.81 $0.81

28.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.14 $2.14

93.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.63 $1.63

238.65%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.23 $3.23

43.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.18 $10.18

40.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.76 $9.76

52.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.21 $15.21

27.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.27 $4.27

21.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.02 $1.02

67.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.16 $2.16

104.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.78 $4.78

-5.65%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.9 $1.9

33.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.9 $2.9

-5.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.77 $1.77

37.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.02 $1.02

164.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$5.94 $5.94

155.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$9.95 $9.95

65.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.83 $1.83

102.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.49 $1.49

69.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$59.3 $59.3

25.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.68 $3.68

-9.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.22 $1.22

16.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$25.24 $25.24

0.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.85 $0.85

27.06%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.9K $34.9K

-7.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.64%

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

$188 $188

$122 $122

53.96%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.9 $44.9

41.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$55.9 $55.9

16.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$31.28 $31.28

145.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$17.16 $17.16

-24.07%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.04 $12.04

24.00%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,591 $1,591

29.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$17.4K $17.4K

125.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$40.94 $40.94

57.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.95 $39.95

31.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87 $87

9.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

41.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$917 $917

159.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$811 $811

95.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,800 $1,800

164.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,315 $1,315

114.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,091 $1,091

228.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,101 $1,101

126.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,429 $3,429

53.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Charleston, WV: October 29, 2025

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