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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 35.2% more expensive than Christiansburg, VA without rent, and 15.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21% more expensive than Christiansburg, VA without rent, and 71.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.91 $14.91
39.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$49.96 $49.96
100.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.84 $9.84
21.65%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.57 $4.57
21.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.32 $2.32
34.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.88 $1.88
28.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.04 $6.04
13.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.53 $6.53
29.40%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.86 $0.86
20.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.26 $4.26
-2.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.84 $4.84
14.05%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.47 $4.47
4.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.26 $13.26
8.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.43 $14.43
3.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$5.58 $5.58
246.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.77 $2.77
86.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.5 $1.5
14.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.79 $1.79
146.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$2.8 $2.8
61.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.68 $1.68
50.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.68 $1.68
63.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.26 $1.26
92.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.97 $1.97
37.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.1 $7.1
113.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$20.22 $20.22
-18.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.05 $3.05
21.31%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$24.88 $24.88
197.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.09 $3.09
8.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.51 $1.51
-5.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.64 $28.64
-11.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.88 $0.88
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29K $29K
11.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28K $28K
-6.42%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$306 $306
-38.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$55 $55
15.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$74.6 $74.6
-12.61%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.5 $43.5
76.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.15 $12.15
22.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,312 $1,312
57.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.32%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.98 $39.98
60.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$59.5 $59.5
-11.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$110 $110
31.74%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,587 $1,587
49.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,378 $1,378
14.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,421 $1,421
235.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,029 $1,029
173.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,752 $2,752
30.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,408 $2,408
3.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Christiansburg, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,049 $3,049
73.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Christiansburg, VA: October 29, 2025

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