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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.4% more expensive than Herndon, VA without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.4% cheaper than Herndon, VA without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$24.84 $24.84
-16.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$90.5 $90.5
10.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.09 $11.09
7.94%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.42 $5.42
2.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.95 $2.95
5.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.66 $2.66
-9.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.85 $7.85
-12.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$9.09 $9.09
-7.04%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.84 $3.84
8.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.97 $6.97
-20.80%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$17.46 $17.46
-17.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.18 $15.18
-1.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.78 $19.78
-2.22%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.16 $6.16
-16.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.77 $1.77
-3.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.23 $5.23
-15.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.68 $5.68
-20.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.55 $3.55
-28.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.27 $2.27
20.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.14 $1.14
113.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.44 $2.44
10.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.08 $12.08
25.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.19 $16.19
1.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.9 $1.9
23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.25 $3.25
13.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.56 $2.56
-1.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$30.26 $30.26
144.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.06 $4.06
-17.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.39 $1.39
2.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.56 $24.56
3.50%
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
$30.3K $30.3K
6.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$131 $131
43.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$60.6 $60.6
5.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.4 $68.4
-4.64%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$54.4 $54.4
41.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$10.17 $10.17
28.12%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.91 $15.91
-6.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,888 $1,888
9.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$36.5K $36.5K
7.45%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$72.8 $72.8
-11.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$51 $51
2.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-7.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$116 $116
24.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,106 $2,106
12.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,780 $1,780
-10.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,387 $3,387
40.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,184 $3,184
-11.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,453 $2,453
46.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,753 $2,753
-9.54%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Herndon, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,564 $5,564
-5.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Herndon, VA: October 27, 2025

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