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

😐 Solo nomad: McLean, VA is 0.7% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.2% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: McLean, VA is 15.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.38 $18.38

$20.82 $20.82

-11.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 $59.8

$100 $100

-40.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$11.97 $11.97

0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$5.56 $5.56

-2.52%

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

$2.06 $2.06

$3.11 $3.11

-33.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.42 $2.42

-36.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 $6.63

$6.86 $6.86

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.55 $7.55

$8.45 $8.45

-10.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.04 $1.04

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.6 $3.6

$4.15 $4.15

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$5.52 $5.52

-53.80%

Eggs

$4.73 $4.73

$4.65 $4.65

1.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$14.33 $14.33

21.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 $10.16

$14.88 $14.88

-31.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.13 $20.13

$19.34 $19.34

4.08%

Apples (1kg)

$7.24 $7.24

$5.17 $5.17

40.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.71 $1.71

-1.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.91 $7.91

$4.41 $4.41

79.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.2 $8.2

$4.51 $4.51

81.82%

Potato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.53 $2.53

94.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.74 $2.74

31.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.43 $2.43

16.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.7 $2.7

-63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 $8.12

$15.19 $15.19

-46.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.49 $16.49

$16.42 $16.42

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.35 $2.35

-25.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.7 $3.7

0.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.53 $2.53

1.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 $4.63

$3.34 $3.34

38.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.42 $1.42

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.34 $29.34

$25.42 $25.42

15.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-18.09%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.56%

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

$218 $218

$188 $188

15.91%

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

$52 $52

$63.7 $63.7

-18.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$65.2 $65.2

-5.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 $91.1

$76.7 $76.7

18.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 $15.36

$14.93 $14.93

2.88%

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

$1,933 $1,933

$2,063 $2,063

-6.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$55.8K $55.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

42.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.68 $46.68

$64.3 $64.3

-27.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.49 $48.49

$52.4 $52.4

-7.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 $70.6

$95.2 $95.2

-25.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.7 $64.7

$145 $145

-55.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,757 $2,757

$2,378 $2,378

15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,584 $1,584

1.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,767 $3,767

$4,763 $4,763

-20.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,267 $3,267

$2,815 $2,815

16.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,395 $2,395

$3,588 $3,588

-33.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,530 $2,530

$2,490 $2,490

1.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,754 $5,754

$5,275 $5,275

9.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.46

6.6

-2.12%

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

Last update for McLean, VA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada

Singapore

🇸🇬 Singapore

Milan

🇮🇹 Italy

Melbourne

🇦🇺 Australia

Munich

🇩🇪 Germany

Vienna

🇦🇹 Austria