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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.7% more expensive than Williamsburg, VA without rent, and 5.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.5% more expensive than Williamsburg, VA without rent, and 14.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.11 $20.11
3.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.8 $79.8
25.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.57 $13.57
-11.79%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.62 $5.62
-1.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.86 $2.86
8.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.15 $2.15
12.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.98 $5.98
14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.32 $7.32
15.44%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.95 $0.95
9.47%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.2 $3.2
29.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.92 $3.92
40.82%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.59 $3.59
29.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.11 $13.11
9.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.34 $8.34
78.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.79 $14.79
30.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.79 $6.79
-23.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.29 $1.29
32.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.68 $4.68
-5.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.5 $3.5
28.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.61 $3.61
-29.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.77 $2.77
-1.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.54 $1.54
57.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.72 $1.72
56.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.33 $6.33
139.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.28 $10.28
59.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.63 $2.63
-10.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.81 $3.81
-2.89%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, 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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.58 $3.58
-6.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.43 $2.43
-41.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.26 $29.26
-13.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.8K $29.8K
8.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.5K $26.5K
-0.90%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$188 $188
0.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.1 $56.1
13.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.8 $66.8
-2.34%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$96.6 $96.6
-20.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$24.54 $24.54
-46.90%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.14 $15.14
-1.39%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,760 $1,760
17.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.1K $24.1K
62.63%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$37.68 $37.68
70.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.52 $34.52
51.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$97.1 $97.1
-1.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$155 $155
-6.92%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,430 $2,430
-2.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,546 $1,546
2.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,674 $2,674
78.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,553 $2,553
10.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,195 $2,195
63.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,701 $1,701
46.36%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Williamsburg, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,375 $4,375
20.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

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 Williamsburg, VA: October 28, 2025

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