Cost of Living Comparison Between Martinsburg, WV and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Martinsburg, WV and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Martinsburg, WV is 0.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Martinsburg, WV is 18% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.9 $22.9
$20.82 $20.82
9.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 $59.1
$100 $100
-41.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.34 $13.34
$11.97 $11.97
11.45%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$5.56 $5.56
-0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.11 $3.11
0.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.42 $2.42
6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.57 $6.57
$6.86 $6.86
-4.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.74 $7.74
$8.45 $8.45
-8.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.04 $1.04
-13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.76 $2.76
$4.15 $4.15
-33.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$5.52 $5.52
-63.95%
Eggs
$3.53 $3.53
$4.65 $4.65
-24.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.9 $10.9
$14.33 $14.33
-23.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.55 $7.55
$14.88 $14.88
-49.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$19.34 $19.34
-16.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$5.17 $5.17
-36.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.71 $1.71
-28.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.94 $7.94
$4.41 $4.41
80.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$4.51 $4.51
22.62%
Potato (1kg)
$3.4 $3.4
$2.53 $2.53
34.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.74 $2.74
34.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.43 $2.43
15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.2 $3.2
$2.7 $2.7
18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.25 $9.25
$15.19 $15.19
-39.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.6 $16.6
$16.42 $16.42
1.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 $3.77
$3.7 $3.7
1.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.53 $2.53
1.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.8 $69.8
$74.1 $74.1
-5.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.34 $3.34
35.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.42 $1.42
-4.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.6 $29.6
$25.42 $25.42
16.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-18.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$188 $188
13.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.99 $29.99
$63.7 $63.7
-52.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$65.2 $65.2
1.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.14 $49.14
$76.7 $76.7
-35.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.63 $19.63
$13.03 $13.03
50.65%
Cinema Ticket
$15.44 $15.44
$14.93 $14.93
3.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,883 $1,883
$2,063 $2,063
-8.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.04 $48.04
$64.3 $64.3
-25.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.96 $47.96
$52.4 $52.4
-8.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$95.2 $95.2
-16.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$145 $145
-16.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 $1,236
$2,378 $2,378
-48.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$944 $944
$1,584 $1,584
-40.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,569 $1,569
$4,763 $4,763
-67.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,740 $1,740
$2,815 $2,815
-38.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,023 $2,023
$3,588 $3,588
-43.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,952 $1,952
$2,490 $2,490
-21.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martinsburg, WV
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,717 $4,717
$5,275 $5,275
-10.57%
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 Martinsburg, WV: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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