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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.7% cheaper than Fairfax, VA without rent, and 10.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.2% more expensive than Fairfax, VA without rent, and 2.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.9 $19.9

4.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99 $99

1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.82 $11.82

1.27%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.62 $5.62

-1.07%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.79 $2.79

11.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.32 $2.32

4.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.14 $6.14

11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.82 $7.82

8.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.98 $0.98

6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.67 $3.67

13.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.92 $5.92

-6.76%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.05 $5.05

-7.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.54 $17.54

-18.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.63 $12.63

17.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.65 $16.65

16.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.47 $5.47

-5.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 $1.77

-3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.08 $5.08

-13.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.4 $6.4

-29.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.41 $3.41

-25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.73 $2.73

0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.26 $2.26

7.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.5 $2.5

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.76 $10.76

41.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.76 $13.76

19.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.6 $2.6

-9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.67 $4.67

-20.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.15 $5.15

-50.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$45.63 $45.63

62.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.55 $2.55

30.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.54 $1.54

-7.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.74 $22.74

11.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.10%

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

$188 $188

$207 $207

-9.02%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.5 $59.5

7.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$72.1 $72.1

-9.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$110 $110

-30.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$24.76 $24.76

-47.37%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.2 $15.2

-1.78%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,783 $1,783

15.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$30.8K $30.8K

27.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$54.1 $54.1

18.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$50.9 $50.9

3.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$96.1 $96.1

-0.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$144 $144

0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,216 $2,216

7.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,918 $1,918

-17.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,733 $3,733

27.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,902 $2,902

-3.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$5,453 $5,453

-34.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$4,014 $4,014

-37.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,332 $6,332

-16.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fairfax, VA: October 27, 2025

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