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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 0.7% cheaper than McLean, VA without rent, and 1.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 18.9% more expensive than McLean, VA without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.38 $18.38

13.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$59.8 $59.8

67.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.03 $12.03

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.42 $5.42

2.58%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.06 $2.06

50.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.53 $1.53

58.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.63 $6.63

3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.55 $7.55

11.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.14 $1.14

-8.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.6 $3.6

15.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.55 $2.55

116.47%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.73 $4.73

-1.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.42 $17.42

-17.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.16 $10.16

46.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.13 $20.13

-3.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.24 $7.24

-28.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$7.91 $7.91

-44.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$8.2 $8.2

-45.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.92 $4.92

-48.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.6 $3.6

-23.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.84 $2.84

-14.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$0.99 $0.99

172.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.12 $8.12

87.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$16.49 $16.49

-0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.73 $3.73

-0.80%

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

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.63 $4.63

-27.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.34 $29.34

-13.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

22.09%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.02%

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

$188 $188

$218 $218

-13.73%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$52 $52

22.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.8 $61.8

5.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$91.1 $91.1

-15.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.36 $15.36

-2.80%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,933 $1,933

6.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$55.8K $55.8K

-29.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.68 $46.68

37.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.49 $48.49

8.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$70.6 $70.6

34.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$64.7 $64.7

123.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,757 $2,757

-13.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,613 $1,613

-1.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,767 $3,767

26.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,267 $3,267

-13.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,395 $2,395

49.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,530 $2,530

-1.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,754 $5,754

-8.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.46

2.17%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for McLean, VA: October 29, 2025

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