Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Manassas, VA: $3,037 and $3,027 a month, rent and utilities included.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Manassas, VA
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Manassas, VA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Manassas, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,027

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,027 in Manassas, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Manassas, VA $3,027

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,411 in Manassas, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Manassas, VA $4,411

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,795 in Manassas, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Manassas, VA $5,795

Chicago, IL and Manassas, VA have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chicago, IL and Manassas, VA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Manassas, VA by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.16 $25.16

-17.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$88.2 $88.2

1.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.11 $12.11

8.92%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.62 $6.62

-14.50%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.50 $2.50

5.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.40 $6.40

7.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.44 $8.44

4.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.04 $1.04

20.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.94 $3.94

-5.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.02 $7.02

-23.22%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.61 $4.61

2.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.63 $10.63

30.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.48 $14.48

-0.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$20.53 $20.53

-10.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$7.75 $7.75

-32.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.24 $2.24

-11.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$8.07 $8.07

-49.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.90 $6.90

-27.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.56 $5.56

-51.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.97 $3.97

-33.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.20 $2.20

1.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.18 $2.18

43.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.76 $9.76

41.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.12 $14.12

5.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.12 $2.12

19.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.86 $3.86

-9.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$5.09 $5.09

-52.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$102 $102

-27.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.05 $3.05

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.49 $1.49

-6.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$20.33 $20.33

23.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.03 $1.03

16.50%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$29.6K $29.6K

18.18%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.77%

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

$194 $194

$213 $213

-8.78%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$52.6 $52.6

31.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$60.1 $60.1

2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$43.93 $43.93

9.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$20.38 $20.38

34.15%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$18.26 $18.26

-2.46%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,921 $1,921

-6.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$11.8K $11.8K

170.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$48.04 $48.04

39.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$47.88 $47.88

8.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

-0.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$107 $107

34.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,840 $1,840

37.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,479 $1,479

6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,869 $2,869

65.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,298 $2,298

17.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,723 $2,723

53.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,512 $2,512

10.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,892 $4,892

0.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.64

2.56%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Manassas, VA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Manassas, VA

$1.5K 48.9% 6.3% $99

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Manassas, VA

$487 16.1% 8.9% $40

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Manassas, VA

$385 12.7% 11.7% $40

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Manassas, VA

$326 10.8% 0.1% $0.4

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Manassas, VA

$137 4.5% 16.4% $27

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Manassas, VA

$133 4.4% 42.2% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Manassas, VA

$80 2.7% 3.7% $3.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,840 in Manassas, VA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $88 in Manassas, VA. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $487 in Manassas, VA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Manassas, VA

🕒 Local time

04:40 4:40 AM

05:40 5:40 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

42,772

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Manassas, VA 930 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,541 in Manassas, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manassas, VA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,840 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,921 in Manassas, VA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,027 in Manassas, 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 $3,027 in Manassas, VA to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.