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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Harrisonburg, VA is 30.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Harrisonburg, VA is 19.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.2 $10.2
$20.82 $20.82
-51.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.34 $45.34
$100 $100
-54.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.95 $8.95
$11.97 $11.97
-25.23%
Cappuccino
$5.82 $5.82
$5.56 $5.56
4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$3.11 $3.11
-11.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.42 $2.42
14.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.76 $7.76
$6.86 $6.86
13.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.87 $8.87
$8.45 $8.45
4.97%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.64 $0.64
$1.04 $1.04
-38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 $2.14
$4.15 $4.15
-48.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.46 $2.46
$5.52 $5.52
-55.43%
Eggs
$2.8 $2.8
$4.65 $4.65
-39.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.85 $17.85
$14.33 $14.33
24.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.84 $8.84
$14.88 $14.88
-40.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.97 $17.97
$19.34 $19.34
-7.08%
Apples (1kg)
$6.01 $6.01
$5.17 $5.17
16.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.71 $1.71
-12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$4.41 $4.41
15.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.37 $6.37
$4.51 $4.51
41.24%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 $3.54
$2.53 $2.53
39.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.74 $2.74
33.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.43 $2.43
-5.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 $1.13
$2.7 $2.7
-58.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68 $5.68
$15.19 $15.19
-62.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.23 $12.23
$16.42 $16.42
-25.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.35 $2.35
-50.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.7 $3.7
3.24%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$3.34 $3.34
22.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.42 $1.42
72.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.22 $30.22
$25.42 $25.42
18.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.15%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$188 $188
10.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.7 $60.7
$63.7 $63.7
-4.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$65.2 $65.2
6.32%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.39 $43.39
$76.7 $76.7
-43.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.83 $16.83
$14.93 $14.93
12.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,723 $2,723
$2,063 $2,063
32.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.9K $40.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
4.39%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.1 $79.1
$64.3 $64.3
23.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$52.4 $52.4
-2.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
6.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$145 $145
-0.75%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,623 $1,623
$2,378 $2,378
-31.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 $1,100
$1,584 $1,584
-30.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,656 $2,656
$4,763 $4,763
-44.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,184 $2,184
$2,815 $2,815
-22.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,139 $2,139
$3,588 $3,588
-40.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,109 $2,109
$2,490 $2,490
-15.31%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Harrisonburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,259 $4,259
$5,275 $5,275
-19.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
6.6
-1.82%

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

Last update for Harrisonburg, VA: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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