Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Newport News, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Newport News, VA: $2,512 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
121

Cost of Living Index in Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Newport News, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,512

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,512 in Newport News, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Newport News, VA $2,512

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,653 in Newport News, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Newport News, VA $3,653

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,794 in Newport News, VA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Newport News, VA $4,794

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Newport News, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Newport News, VA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Newport News, VA by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.05 $25.05

-17.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$61.6 $61.6

44.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$10.57 $10.57

24.79%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$6.00 $6.00

-5.67%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.62 $2.62

0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.06 $2.06

10.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.88 $7.88

-12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.18 $8.18

8.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.95 $0.95

31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.56 $3.56

4.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.47 $3.47

55.33%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.88 $2.88

64.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$7.25 $7.25

90.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.22 $11.22

28.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.82 $18.82

-2.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$7.12 $7.12

-26.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.02 $1.02

94.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.00 $5.00

-18.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.19 $4.19

18.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.69 $2.69

-0.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.30 $3.30

-19.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.03 $2.03

10.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.66 $2.66

17.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$8.73 $8.73

58.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.84 $15.84

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.71 $1.71

48.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.71 $5.71

-38.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$56.0 $56.0

31.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.09 $4.09

-22.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.32 $1.32

5.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$24.66 $24.66

1.50%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

26.15%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.57%

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

$194 $194

$208 $208

-6.34%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$81.1 $81.1

-14.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$78.2 $78.2

-21.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$50.3 $50.3

-4.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$13.67 $13.67

30.29%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,930 $2,930

-38.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$41.1K $41.1K

-22.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$55.4 $55.4

20.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$44.54 $44.54

17.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$103 $103

-1.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$125 $125

14.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,398 $1,398

80.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,072 $1,072

47.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,883 $1,883

151.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,727 $1,727

55.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,438 $2,438

71.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,049 $2,049

35.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,926 $3,926

25.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.54

4.13%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Newport News, VA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Newport News, VA

$1.1K 42.7% 32% $506

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Newport News, VA

$394 15.7% 12% $54

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Newport News, VA

$379 15.1% 9.8% $34

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Newport News, VA

$367 14.6% 12.7% $41

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Newport News, VA

$148 5.9% 9.8% $16

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Newport News, VA

$75 3% 19.8% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Newport News, VA

$78 3.1% 7.1% $5.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,398 in Newport News, 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 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $62 in Newport News, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $394 – making Newport News, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Newport News, VA

🕒 Local time

20:36 8:36 PM

21:36 9:36 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

186,247

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Newport News, VA 1,100 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,512 in Newport News, VA – Newport News, VA comes out roughly 17% 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 $3,768 in Newport News, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Newport News, VA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,398 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $62 in Newport News, VA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Newport News, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,512, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Newport News, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,512 in Newport News, VA to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Newport News, VA. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.