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

🙂 Solo nomad: Herndon, VA is 1.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Herndon, VA is 9.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.84 $24.84
$20.82 $20.82
19.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.5 $90.5
$100 $100
-9.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 $11.09
$11.97 $11.97
-7.35%
Cappuccino
$5.42 $5.42
$5.56 $5.56
-2.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.11 $3.11
-5.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.42 $2.42
9.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 $7.85
$6.86 $6.86
14.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.09 $9.09
$8.45 $8.45
7.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.84 $3.84
$4.15 $4.15
-7.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.97 $6.97
$5.52 $5.52
26.27%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.65 $4.65
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.46 $17.46
$14.33 $14.33
21.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.18 $15.18
$14.88 $14.88
2.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.78 $19.78
$19.34 $19.34
2.28%
Apples (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$5.17 $5.17
19.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.71 $1.71
3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.41 $4.41
18.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$4.51 $4.51
25.94%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.53 $2.53
40.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.74 $2.74
-17.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 $1.14
$2.43 $2.43
-53.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.7 $2.7
-9.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.08 $12.08
$15.19 $15.19
-20.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 $16.19
$16.42 $16.42
-1.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.35 $2.35
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.7 $3.7
-12.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.53 $2.53
1.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.26 $30.26
$74.1 $74.1
-59.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 $4.06
$3.34 $3.34
21.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.42 $1.42
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.56 $24.56
$25.42 $25.42
-3.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.08 $1.08
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 $131
$188 $188
-30.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.6 $60.6
$63.7 $63.7
-4.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$65.2 $65.2
4.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.4 $54.4
$76.7 $76.7
-29.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.17 $10.17
$13.03 $13.03
-21.95%
Cinema Ticket
$15.91 $15.91
$14.93 $14.93
6.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,888 $1,888
$2,063 $2,063
-8.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.5K $36.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-6.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8 $72.8
$64.3 $64.3
13.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51 $51
$52.4 $52.4
-2.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$95.2 $95.2
7.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$145 $145
-19.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 $2,106
$2,378 $2,378
-11.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,780 $1,780
$1,584 $1,584
12.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,387 $3,387
$4,763 $4,763
-28.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,184 $3,184
$2,815 $2,815
13.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,453 $2,453
$3,588 $3,588
-31.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,753 $2,753
$2,490 $2,490
10.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herndon, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,564 $5,564
$5,275 $5,275
5.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Herndon, VA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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