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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $1,815 in Charleston, WV.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $2,666 in Charleston, WV.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $3,517 in Charleston, WV.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 70% more expensive than Charleston, WV, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Charleston, WV 35% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.06 $15.06

38.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$50.2 $50.2

95.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.89 $7.89

50.32%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$2.90 $2.90

93.10%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.16 $2.16

42.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.07 $2.07

19.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$2.95 $2.95

142.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.07 $6.07

33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.79 $0.79

32.91%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.25 $2.25

82.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$1.69 $1.69

231.95%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.18 $3.18

41.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.16 $10.16

40.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$9.38 $9.38

58.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.32 $15.32

25.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.31 $4.31

19.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.02 $1.02

73.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.16 $2.16

103.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.03 $5.03

-9.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.92 $1.92

32.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.88 $2.88

-4.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.74 $1.74

39.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.01 $1.01

159.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$6.01 $6.01

148.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.14 $10.14

45.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.69 $1.69

45.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$1.77 $1.77

110.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.54 $1.54

61.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$59.2 $59.2

27.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.67 $3.67

-13.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.20 $1.20

18.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.91 $24.91

0.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.82 $0.82

29.27%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.5K $35.5K

-9.99%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.74%

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

$185 $185

$119 $119

56.04%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$45.88 $45.88

34.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$54.9 $54.9

21.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$31.51 $31.51

138.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$17.08 $17.08

-23.42%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$11.96 $11.96

22.99%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,569 $1,569

28.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$17.7K $17.7K

122.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$40.52 $40.52

59.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$40.01 $40.01

31.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$87.3 $87.3

12.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$99.7 $99.7

48.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$919 $919

151.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$805 $805

97.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$1,779 $1,779

159.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,312 $1,312

111.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$1,104 $1,104

255.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,127 $1,127

131.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,565 $3,565

46.37%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Charleston, WV: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $919 in Charleston, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 46% 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 $50.0 in Charleston, WV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $298 per month, with Charleston, WV 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 Charleston, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Charleston, WV is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 46% 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 $919 in Charleston, WV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Charleston, WV – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,815 in Charleston, WV versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Charleston, WV but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Charleston, WV the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Charleston, WV is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Charleston, WV are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Charleston, WV gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.