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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,544 in Chesapeake, VA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,530 in Chesapeake, VA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,516 in Chesapeake, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Chesapeake, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Chesapeake, VA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Chesapeake, VA by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$13.26 $13.26

52.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$73.6 $73.6

37.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$10.08 $10.08

19.94%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.18 $5.18

11.00%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.32 $2.32

28.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.96 $1.96

25.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$5.48 $5.48

28.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$5.92 $5.92

39.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.92 $0.92

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.01 $4.01

3.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.19 $3.19

68.65%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$3.44 $3.44

31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$13.95 $13.95

2.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$8.11 $8.11

85.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$16.51 $16.51

14.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$5.14 $5.14

-0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.10 $1.10

54.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.81 $5.81

-27.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.34 $4.34

2.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.80 $2.80

-8.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.90 $2.90

-5.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.56 $1.56

61.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.19 $2.19

19.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$7.61 $7.61

95.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.86 $14.86

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.72 $1.72

43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.02 $3.02

23.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.95 $1.95

27.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

$71.2 $71.2

3.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.56 $2.56

29.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.19 $1.19

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$14.70 $14.70

70.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.81 $0.81

29.63%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$30.6K $30.6K

6.54%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.98%

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

$187 $187

$185 $185

1.12%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$53.8 $53.8

18.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$53.4 $53.4

23.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$42.60 $42.60

81.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$13.03 $13.03

16.27%

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

$2,029 $2,029

$1,483 $1,483

36.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$18.7K $18.7K

106.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$51.7 $51.7

22.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$20.31 $20.31

156.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$68.7 $68.7

39.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$60.2 $60.2

145.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$1,791 $1,791

30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$1,379 $1,379

17.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$2,234 $2,234

105.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$1,898 $1,898

46.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$1,843 $1,843

113.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$1,630 $1,630

57.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

$4,189 $4,189

23.56%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Chesapeake, VA: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $1,791 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 24% 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Chesapeake, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $446 vs $376 – making Chesapeake, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 23%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,816 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,029 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,483 in Chesapeake, VA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,544 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, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.