Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chesapeake, VA: $2,546 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
122

Cost of Living Index in Chesapeake, VA
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Chesapeake, VA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Chesapeake, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,546

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Chesapeake, VA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Chesapeake, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,546 in Chesapeake, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Chesapeake, VA $2,546

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,565 in Chesapeake, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Chesapeake, VA $3,565

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,585 in Chesapeake, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Chesapeake, VA $4,585

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Chesapeake, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Chesapeake, VA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Chesapeake, VA by 87%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.28 $20.28

2.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$89.6 $89.6

-0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.56 $11.56

14.10%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.91 $5.91

-4.23%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.31 $2.31

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.11 $2.11

8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.03 $6.03

13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.60 $6.60

33.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.87 $0.87

43.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.62 $3.62

2.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.12 $3.12

72.76%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.26 $3.26

45.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$14.06 $14.06

-1.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$8.03 $8.03

79.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$17.61 $17.61

4.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.09 $5.09

2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.06 $1.06

86.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.36 $4.36

-6.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.44 $4.44

11.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.86 $2.86

-6.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.82 $2.82

-5.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.51 $1.51

48.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.17 $2.17

44.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$8.83 $8.83

56.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.27 $15.27

-2.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.70 $1.70

49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.77 $2.77

26.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$71.1 $71.1

3.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.96 $2.96

7.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.23 $1.23

13.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$17.85 $17.85

40.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.4K $27.4K

27.77%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.17%

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

$194 $194

$187 $187

4.15%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.0 $58.0

19.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$67.8 $67.8

-9.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$40.05 $40.05

19.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$9.07 $9.07

96.36%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,324 $1,324

35.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$18.7K $18.7K

70.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$40.10 $40.10

67.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$20.16 $20.16

158.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$76.1 $76.1

33.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$107 $107

34.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,047 $2,047

23.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,281 $1,281

23.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,839 $2,839

66.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,717 $1,717

56.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,844 $2,844

47.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,015 $2,015

37.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,368 $4,368

12.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.49

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chesapeake, VA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Chesapeake, VA

$1.3K 50.3% 18.8% $297

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Chesapeake, VA

$368 14.5% 17.7% $79

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Chesapeake, VA

$329 12.9% 4.7% $16

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Chesapeake, VA

$312 12.3% 4% $13

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Chesapeake, VA

$109 4.3% 33.2% $55

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Chesapeake, VA

$88 3.5% 5.4% $5

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Chesapeake, VA

$58 2.3% 30.3% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,047 in Chesapeake, VA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $90 in Chesapeake, VA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $368 in Chesapeake, VA – so Chesapeake, VA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Chesapeake, VA

🕒 Local time

01:04 1:04 AM

02:04 2:04 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

249,422

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Chesapeake, VA 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Chesapeake, VA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chesapeake, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 19%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,820 in Chesapeake, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chesapeake, VA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,047 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,546 in Chesapeake, VA. That makes Chesapeake, VA about 16% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,324 in Chesapeake, VA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,546 in Chesapeake, VA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chesapeake, VA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chesapeake, VA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.