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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.3% more expensive than Staunton, VA without rent, and 39.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.2% more expensive than Staunton, VA without rent, and 19.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.82 $19.82
5.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81 $81
23.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.01 $12.01
-0.33%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.88 $5.88
-5.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.03 $3.03
2.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.49 $2.49
-2.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.11 $4.11
66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.66 $5.66
49.29%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.08 $1.08
-3.70%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.32 $3.32
25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.98 $6.98
-20.92%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.39 $4.39
5.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.56 $11.56
23.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.49 $15.49
-3.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.56 $15.56
24.29%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.08 $6.08
-14.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.49 $1.49
14.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.05 $5.05
-12.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.36 $6.36
-29.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.57 $3.57
-29.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.74 $3.74
-26.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.96 $1.96
23.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.47 $2.47
9.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.51 $9.51
59.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.1 $16.1
1.99%
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
$4.5 $4.5
-17.78%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.05 $4.05
-17.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.46 $2.46
-42.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.02 $30.02
-15.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.8 $0.8
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.5K $29.5K
9.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.61%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$173 $173
9.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$60.1 $60.1
5.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$30.39 $30.39
114.54%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$44.45 $44.45
72.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.41 $13.41
11.33%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,705 $2,705
-23.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$40.7K $40.7K
-3.85%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$81.1 $81.1
-20.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$50.6 $50.6
3.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$103 $103
-7.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$147 $147
-1.58%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,354 $1,354
75.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$856 $856
85.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,648 $2,648
79.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,208 $2,208
27.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,231 $2,231
60.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,234 $2,234
11.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Staunton, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,221 $4,221
24.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.48
1.85%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Staunton, VA: October 29, 2025

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