Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Virginia Beach, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Virginia Beach, VA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 16.3% more expensive than Virginia Beach, VA without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.7% more expensive than Virginia Beach, VA without rent, and 10.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.38 $20.38
2.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$89.7 $89.7
11.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.13 $11.13
7.55%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.53 $5.53
0.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.69 $2.69
15.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.43 $2.43
-0.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.91 $5.91
16.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.06 $7.06
19.69%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.06 $3.06
35.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.53 $5.53
-0.18%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.59 $3.59
29.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.5 $11.5
24.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.74 $6.74
120.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.93 $15.93
21.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.44 $2.44
111.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.5 $1.5
14.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.79 $2.79
58.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.34 $4.34
3.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.31 $2.31
9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.12 $3.12
-12.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.7 $1.7
42.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.35 $2.35
14.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.79 $8.79
72.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.16 $13.16
24.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.82 $1.82
29.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.21 $2.21
67.42%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
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
$69.9 $69.9
6.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.68 $4.68
-28.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.29 $1.29
10.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$20.16 $20.16
26.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.4K $31.4K
3.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.56%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$164 $164
15.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.69 $47.69
33.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.5 $67.5
-3.46%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$50.7 $50.7
51.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$35.16 $35.16
-62.94%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.12 $12.12
23.18%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,607 $1,607
28.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.8K $15.8K
148.05%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.4 $63.4
1.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.65 $46.65
12.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$118 $118
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$145 $145
-0.55%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,695 $1,695
40.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,329 $1,329
19.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,967 $2,967
60.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,609 $2,609
7.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,480 $2,480
44.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,263 $2,263
10.04%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,360 $4,360
20.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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 Virginia Beach, VA: October 29, 2025

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