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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23% more expensive than Roanoke, VA without rent, and 59.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 41.3% more expensive than Roanoke, VA without rent, and 67.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.36 $20.36
2.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$73.3 $73.3
36.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.92 $10.92
9.62%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.18 $5.18
7.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.24 $2.24
38.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.95 $1.95
24.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.67 $3.67
86.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$3.93 $3.93
115.01%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.09 $3.09
34.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.69 $3.69
49.59%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.91 $2.91
59.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.36 $9.36
53.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.6 $7.6
95.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15 $15
28.93%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.29 $4.29
20.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.19 $1.19
43.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.2 $3.2
37.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.43 $4.43
1.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.07 $2.07
22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.75 $2.75
-0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.63 $1.63
49.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.91 $1.91
41.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.8 $8.8
72.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.17 $11.17
47.00%
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
$1.3 $1.3
184.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.34 $1.34
88.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$83.6 $83.6
-11.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.46 $2.46
35.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.56 $1.56
-8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$22.81 $22.81
11.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.2K $23.2K
40.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.8K $24.8K
5.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$157 $157
19.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.3 $53.3
19.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.5 $62.5
4.37%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$16.61 $16.61
361.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.98 $11.98
24.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$398 $398
418.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$30.5K $30.5K
28.35%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$28.63 $28.63
124.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$22.41 $22.41
133.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$78.9 $78.9
20.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$103 $103
41.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,427 $1,427
66.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$769 $769
105.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,017 $2,017
136.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,226 $1,226
129.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,957 $1,957
83.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,910 $1,910
30.41%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Roanoke, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,331 $3,331
58.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.52
1.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Roanoke, VA: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.