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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.6% more expensive than Richmond, VA without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12% more expensive than Richmond, VA without rent, and 24.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$20.15 $20.15

-0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$11.16 $11.16

7.71%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.16 $5.16

8.91%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.20 $2.20

36.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.04 $5.04

38.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.98 $7.98

5.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.97 $0.97

12.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.86 $3.86

6.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.69 $3.69

50.95%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$5.40 $5.40

-16.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$9.19 $9.19

56.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$12.22 $12.22

22.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$15.78 $15.78

20.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.45 $5.45

-4.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.19 $1.19

49.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.85 $3.85

12.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.30 $4.30

5.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.65 $2.65

-3.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.79 $2.79

-2.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.90 $1.90

31.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.19 $2.19

20.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$10.46 $10.46

44.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$13.16 $13.16

13.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.33 $2.33

6.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$4.09 $4.09

-10.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.48 $1.48

73.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$60.0 $60.0

23.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.57 $2.57

28.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.52 $1.52

-9.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$22.15 $22.15

12.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.87 $0.87

21.84%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$28.1K $28.1K

11.96%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.91%

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

$187 $187

$159 $159

16.97%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$54.5 $54.5

15.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$75.7 $75.7

-13.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$59.8 $59.8

25.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

$20.36 $20.36

-36.39%

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$15.03 $15.03

0.67%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$1,263 $1,263

63.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$30.6K $30.6K

26.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$53.2 $53.2

20.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$35.22 $35.22

44.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$78.5 $78.5

23.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$121 $121

18.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,461 $1,461

60.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$1,332 $1,332

21.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$2,358 $2,358

102.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$2,122 $2,122

30.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$3,140 $3,140

19.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$2,356 $2,356

10.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

$4,351 $4,351

15.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.58

0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Richmond, VA: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities

Copenhagen

🇩🇰 Denmark

Oslo

🇳🇴 Norway

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Portland, OR

🇺🇸 United States

Rotterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Cork

🇮🇪 Ireland

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States