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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.5% more expensive than Springfield, VA without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.5% more expensive than Springfield, VA without rent, and 1.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.9 $19.9
4.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$101 $101
-0.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.87 $10.87
10.12%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.18 $5.18
7.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.18 $2.18
42.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2 $2
21.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.99 $4.99
37.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.97 $7.97
6.02%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.88 $0.88
18.18%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.66 $3.66
13.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.68 $3.68
50.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.46 $4.46
4.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$8.93 $8.93
60.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.31 $12.31
20.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.35 $15.35
25.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.58 $5.58
-7.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.18 $1.18
44.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.78 $3.78
16.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.27 $4.27
5.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.64 $2.64
-4.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.69 $2.69
1.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.99 $1.99
22.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.19 $2.19
23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.3 $10.3
47.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.02 $14.02
17.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.22 $2.22
5.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.19 $4.19
-11.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.45 $2.45
36.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$22.73 $22.73
11.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$28.5K $28.5K
13.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$206 $206
-8.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$58.7 $58.7
8.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.7 $67.7
-3.62%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$18.22 $18.22
321.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.05 $15.05
-0.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,292 $1,292
59.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$31.5K $31.5K
24.31%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55 $55
17.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.7 $39.7
31.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$78.2 $78.2
21.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$119 $119
21.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,531 $1,531
55.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,393 $1,393
13.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,677 $2,677
77.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,397 $3,397
-17.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,111 $3,111
15.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,181 $2,181
14.19%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Springfield, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,042 $7,042
-25.10%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Springfield, VA: October 27, 2025

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