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

😐 Solo nomad: Fairfax, VA is 7.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Fairfax, VA is 11.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.9 $19.9

$20.82 $20.82

-4.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99 $99

$100 $100

-1.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.82 $11.82

$11.97 $11.97

-1.25%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.56 $5.56

1.08%

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

$2.79 $2.79

$3.11 $3.11

-10.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.42 $2.42

-4.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.86 $6.86

-10.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.45 $8.45

-7.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.04 $1.04

-5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.67 $3.67

$4.15 $4.15

-11.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.52 $5.52

7.25%

Eggs

$5.05 $5.05

$4.65 $4.65

8.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

$14.33 $14.33

22.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.63 $12.63

$14.88 $14.88

-15.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.65 $16.65

$19.34 $19.34

-13.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.17 $5.17

5.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.71 $1.71

3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$4.41 $4.41

15.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.4 $6.4

$4.51 $4.51

41.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.53 $2.53

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.74 $2.74

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.43 $2.43

-7.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.7 $2.7

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.76 $10.76

$15.19 $15.19

-29.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 $13.76

$16.42 $16.42

-16.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.6 $2.6

$2.35 $2.35

10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.7 $3.7

26.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.53 $2.53

103.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.63 $45.63

$74.1 $74.1

-38.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.34 $3.34

-23.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.42 $1.42

8.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.74 $22.74

$25.42 $25.42

-10.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.05%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.05%

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

$207 $207

$188 $188

9.92%

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

$59.5 $59.5

$63.7 $63.7

-6.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.1 $72.1

$65.2 $65.2

10.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 $110

$76.7 $76.7

43.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.76 $24.76

$13.03 $13.03

90.02%

Cinema Ticket

$15.2 $15.2

$14.93 $14.93

1.81%

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

$1,783 $1,783

$2,063 $2,063

-13.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.8K $30.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-21.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$64.3 $64.3

-15.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 $50.9

$52.4 $52.4

-2.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$95.2 $95.2

0.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$145 $145

-0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,216 $2,216

$2,378 $2,378

-6.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 $1,918

$1,584 $1,584

21.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,733 $3,733

$4,763 $4,763

-21.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,902 $2,902

$2,815 $2,815

3.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,453 $5,453

$3,588 $3,588

51.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,014 $4,014

$2,490 $2,490

61.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,332 $6,332

$5,275 $5,275

20.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.6

-0.30%

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

Last update for Fairfax, VA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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