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

🙂 Solo nomad: Gainesville, VA is 0.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Gainesville, VA is 13.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.9 $21.9

$20.82 $20.82

5.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$100 $100

-20.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.38 $13.38

$11.97 $11.97

11.78%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$5.56 $5.56

-1.62%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$3.11 $3.11

-7.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.42 $2.42

-6.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.59 $6.59

$6.86 $6.86

-3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.2 $8.2

$8.45 $8.45

-2.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.04 $1.04

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.1 $3.1

$4.15 $4.15

-25.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.52 $5.52

10.69%

Eggs

$4.84 $4.84

$4.65 $4.65

4.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.79 $18.79

$14.33 $14.33

31.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.88 $14.88

-31.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.48 $16.48

$19.34 $19.34

-14.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$5.17 $5.17

1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.71 $1.71

2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$4.41 $4.41

62.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$4.51 $4.51

43.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.53 $2.53

41.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.74 $2.74

-0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.43 $2.43

-6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.7 $2.7

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.88 $7.88

$15.19 $15.19

-48.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.94 $13.94

$16.42 $16.42

-15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.35 $2.35

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.7 $3.7

2.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.34 $3.34

31.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.42 $1.42

-6.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.76 $29.76

$25.42 $25.42

17.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$27K $27K

$32.4K $32.4K

-16.77%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.72%

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

$209 $209

$188 $188

11.28%

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

$52.7 $52.7

$63.7 $63.7

-17.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$65.2 $65.2

3.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.78 $43.78

$76.7 $76.7

-42.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.12 $15.12

$14.93 $14.93

1.27%

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

$1,750 $1,750

$2,063 $2,063

-15.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-38.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.99 $46.99

$64.3 $64.3

-26.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.88 $47.88

$52.4 $52.4

-8.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$95.2 $95.2

1.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$145 $145

-17.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,631 $1,631

$2,378 $2,378

-31.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$1,584 $1,584

-13.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,671 $2,671

$4,763 $4,763

-43.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,231 $2,231

$2,815 $2,815

-20.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,624 $2,624

$3,588 $3,588

-26.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 $2,491

$2,490 $2,490

0.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

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

Last update for Gainesville, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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