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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.3% more expensive than Stafford, VA without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 0.3% more expensive than Stafford, VA without rent, and 14.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.52 $17.52

18.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$119 $119

-15.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.15 $12.15

-1.48%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.55 $5.55

0.18%

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

$3.11 $3.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.47 $2.47

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.18 $7.18

-4.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.87 $9.87

-14.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.15 $1.15

-9.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.08 $3.08

34.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.07 $7.07

-21.92%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.42 $4.42

5.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.38 $17.38

-17.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.14 $11.14

33.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.46 $19.46

-0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.26 $6.26

-17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.06 $2.06

-16.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.26 $5.26

-16.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.31 $6.31

-28.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.48 $3.48

-27.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.76 $3.76

-27.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.58 $2.58

-5.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.5 $2.5

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.31 $12.31

23.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.99 $15.99

2.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.9 $2.9

-18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.48 $4.48

-17.41%

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

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.94 $3.94

-15.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.51 $1.51

-5.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.6 $29.6

-14.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.89 $0.89

21.35%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.5K $29.5K

10.07%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.15%

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

$188 $188

$137 $137

36.98%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.2 $59.2

7.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.8 $68.8

-5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.19 $43.19

77.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$17.1 $17.1

-12.69%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,698 $2,698

-23.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.5K $39.5K

-0.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$80.8 $80.8

-20.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$51 $51

2.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$104 $104

-8.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$143 $143

1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,624 $1,624

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,366 $1,366

15.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,622 $2,622

81.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,180 $2,180

29.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,173 $3,173

13.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,447 $2,447

1.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,624 $7,624

-30.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

10.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Stafford, VA: October 28, 2025

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