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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.4% more expensive than Norfolk, VA without rent, and 2.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.6% more expensive than Norfolk, VA without rent, and 18.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.45 $19.45
7.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74 $74
35.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.1 $12.1
-1.07%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.23 $5.23
6.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.31 $2.31
34.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.09 $2.09
15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.88 $5.88
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.11 $7.11
18.85%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.08 $4.08
1.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.57 $5.57
-0.90%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.67 $4.67
-0.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.56 $13.56
5.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.33 $11.33
31.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.48 $16.48
17.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.77 $4.77
8.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.45 $1.45
17.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.8 $5.8
-23.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.21 $6.21
-27.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.3 $2.3
10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.1 $3.1
-11.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.72 $1.72
41.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.19 $2.19
23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.85 $8.85
71.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.14 $15.14
8.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.13 $3.13
18.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.97 $1.97
28.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$103 $103
-27.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.56 $4.56
-26.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.34 $1.34
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$14.97 $14.97
69.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.3K $30.3K
7.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27K $27K
-2.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$189 $189
-0.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.89 $48.89
30.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.4 $71.4
-8.62%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.8 $39.8
92.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$17.26 $17.26
-24.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.92 $11.92
25.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,491 $1,491
38.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.4K $16.4K
138.81%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$60.7 $60.7
5.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.15 $46.15
13.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$99.9 $99.9
-4.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$138 $138
4.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,889 $1,889
25.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,600 $1,600
-0.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,451 $2,451
94.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,294 $2,294
22.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,498 $2,498
43.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,987 $1,987
25.32%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Norfolk, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,478 $3,478
51.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.53
1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Norfolk, VA: October 29, 2025

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