Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,311 in Hampton, VA, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
158

Cost of Living Index in Hampton, VA
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Hampton, VA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Hampton, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,311

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Hampton, 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 Hampton, VA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,311 in Hampton, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Hampton, VA $3,311

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,024 in Hampton, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Hampton, VA $5,024

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,737 in Hampton, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Hampton, VA $6,737

Chicago, IL is about 8% cheaper than Hampton, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Hampton, VA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Hampton, VA by 143%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.95 $19.95

3.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$75.1 $75.1

18.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.23 $12.23

7.85%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.63 $4.63

22.25%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.38 $3.38

-21.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.44 $2.44

-6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.68 $6.68

2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.96 $8.96

-1.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.53 $1.53

-18.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$5.15 $5.15

-27.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.98 $6.98

-22.78%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.54 $5.54

-14.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$8.15 $8.15

69.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$25.86 $25.86

-44.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$19.88 $19.88

-7.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$13.28 $13.28

-60.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.68 $2.68

-26.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$9.51 $9.51

-57.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$9.84 $9.84

-49.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$6.85 $6.85

-61.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$6.87 $6.87

-61.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.52 $3.52

-36.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$5.22 $5.22

-40.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.60 $9.60

43.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.25 $14.25

4.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.76 $1.76

44.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.79 $3.79

-7.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.84 $3.84

-36.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$54.0 $54.0

36.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$5.12 $5.12

-37.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.89 $1.89

-26.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$20.33 $20.33

23.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.99 $0.99

21.21%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.3K $30.3K

15.71%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.71%

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

$194 $194

$218 $218

-10.96%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$52.1 $52.1

33.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$78.6 $78.6

-21.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$112 $112

-57.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$35.63 $35.63

-23.27%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$17.68 $17.68

0.74%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,362 $1,362

31.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$14.9K $14.9K

113.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$48.03 $48.03

39.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$49.13 $49.13

6.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$132 $132

-23.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$133 $133

8.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,613 $1,613

56.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,586 $1,586

-0.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,840 $2,840

66.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,911 $2,911

-7.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,325 $2,325

19.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,757 $3,757

31.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.1

11.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Hampton, VA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Hampton, VA

$1.6K 47.9% 0.5% $7.9

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Hampton, VA

$656 19.8% 46.6% $209

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Hampton, VA

$326 9.9% 5.4% $18

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Hampton, VA

$349 10.5% 7.2% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Hampton, VA

$163 4.9% 0.6% $1

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Hampton, VA

$84 2.5% 10.2% $9.5

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Hampton, VA

$147 4.4% 76.1% $64

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,613 in Hampton, 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 31% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Hampton, VA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $656 in Hampton, VA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Hampton, VA

🕒 Local time

05:08 5:08 AM

06:08 6:08 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

137,436

💱 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 Hampton, VA 1,110 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Hampton, 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 Hampton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $3,311 in Hampton, VA – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 8% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,967 in Hampton, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hampton, VA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,613 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Hampton, VA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Hampton, VA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,311 in Hampton, VA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,311 in Hampton, VA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.