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 26.9% more expensive than Charleston, WV without rent, and 72.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.2% more expensive than Charleston, WV without rent, and 74.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$15.04 $15.04

36.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$50.3 $50.3

102.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$8.20 $8.20

46.71%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$2.77 $2.77

102.89%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.16 $2.16

42.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.10 $2.10

15.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.04 $3.04

129.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$6.16 $6.16

31.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.16 $2.16

82.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$1.61 $1.61

242.86%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.16 $3.16

43.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$10.37 $10.37

40.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$9.30 $9.30

60.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$15.45 $15.45

21.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.32 $4.32

23.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.07 $1.07

64.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.15 $2.15

104.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.00 $5.00

-12.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.99 $1.99

28.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.87 $2.87

-3.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.83 $1.83

34.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.02 $1.02

160.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$6.13 $6.13

140.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$9.87 $9.87

53.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.68 $1.68

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.81 $1.81

103.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.49 $1.49

69.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$60.3 $60.3

23.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.73 $3.73

-11.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.23 $1.23

16.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$24.65 $24.65

0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$34.9K $34.9K

-10.20%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.9K $24.9K

7.49%

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

$187 $187

$121 $121

54.95%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$45.10 $45.10

38.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$54.9 $54.9

22.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$31.03 $31.03

142.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

$17.03 $17.03

-22.67%

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$11.80 $11.80

28.90%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,565 $1,565

30.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$17.5K $17.5K

124.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$40.34 $40.34

58.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$39.73 $39.73

27.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$88.2 $88.2

8.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$101 $101

41.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$946 $946

148.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$814 $814

98.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,810 $1,810

161.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$1,311 $1,311

110.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$1,133 $1,133

235.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,122 $1,122

129.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,649 $3,649

29.84%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Charleston, WV: April 11, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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