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 14.3% more expensive than Richmond, VA without rent, and 20% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.4% more expensive than Richmond, VA without rent, and 21.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.59 $20.59

$20.35 $20.35

1.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.0 $99.0

$99.8 $99.8

-0.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.96 $10.96

8.58%

Cappuccino

$5.83 $5.83

$5.07 $5.07

14.99%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$2.14 $2.14

41.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.94 $1.94

27.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$4.88 $4.88

39.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.19 $8.19

-0.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.93 $0.93

16.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.88 $3.88

4.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$3.78 $3.78

47.62%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$5.38 $5.38

-15.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 $14.16

$9.33 $9.33

51.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.25 $15.25

$12.41 $12.41

22.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.90 $18.90

$15.54 $15.54

21.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$5.48 $5.48

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.18 $1.18

44.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$3.89 $3.89

9.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.50 $4.50

1.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.60 $2.60

-6.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.70 $2.70

4.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.99 $1.99

26.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.11 $2.11

28.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.69 $10.69

40.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.28 $16.28

$12.82 $12.82

26.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.34 $2.34

2.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.31 $4.31

-17.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.47 $1.47

70.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

$61.1 $61.1

23.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.54 $2.54

25.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.48 $25.48

$22.86 $22.86

11.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.90 $0.90

22.22%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$28.6K $28.6K

10.47%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.70%

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

$186 $186

$158 $158

17.82%

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

$61.5 $61.5

$52.5 $52.5

17.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$76.5 $76.5

-13.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 $77.8

$61.3 $61.3

26.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.93 $12.93

$20.12 $20.12

-35.74%

Cinema Ticket

$14.86 $14.86

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

$2,094 $2,094

$1,289 $1,289

62.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$30.4K $30.4K

29.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.2 $65.2

$53.2 $53.2

22.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$35.78 $35.78

41.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$77.8 $77.8

24.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$119 $119

20.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,309 $2,309

$1,470 $1,470

57.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$1,304 $1,304

22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,723 $4,723

$2,326 $2,326

103.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,120 $2,120

32.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,787 $3,787

$3,120 $3,120

21.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,494 $2,494

$2,414 $2,414

3.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,384 $5,384

$4,216 $4,216

27.70%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Richmond, VA: January 11, 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

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