Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Montross, VA: $2,817 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

134

Cost of Living Index in Montross, VA
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Montross, VA Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Montross, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,817

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montross, VA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montross, VA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,817 per month in Montross, VA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montross, VA $2,817
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,215 per month in Montross, VA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montross, VA $4,215
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,614 per month in Montross, VA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montross, VA $5,614
Chicago, IL $5,999

Montross, VA is about 7% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Montross, VA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Montross, VA by 107%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.42 $24.42

$20.71 $20.71

17.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$89.2 $89.2

10.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.06 $11.06

$13.19 $13.19

-16.15%

Cappuccino

$5.98 $5.98

$5.66 $5.66

5.65%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.64 $2.64

15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.28 $2.28

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.11 $8.11

$6.87 $6.87

18.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.84 $8.84

-0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.25 $1.25

0.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.72 $3.72

20.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.39 $5.39

-1.67%

Eggs

$5.07 $5.07

$4.74 $4.74

6.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.67 $21.67

$13.84 $13.84

56.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$14.40 $14.40

7.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.40 $22.40

$18.38 $18.38

21.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$5.22 $5.22

6.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.98 $1.98

-7.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$4.06 $4.06

11.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.97 $4.97

15.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.67 $2.67

17.98%

Onion (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.66 $2.66

39.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.24 $2.24

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.13 $3.13

-17.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 $9.91

$13.82 $13.82

-28.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.82 $16.82

$14.88 $14.88

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.54 $2.54

12.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.51 $3.51

-19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.43 $2.43

-17.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.2 $66.2

$73.5 $73.5

-10.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.18 $3.18

23.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.39 $1.39

-9.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.97 $24.97

$25.03 $25.03

-0.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.20 $1.20

-15.83%

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

$28.6K $28.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-18.45%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-4.76%

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

$164 $164

$194 $194

-15.89%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$69.5 $69.5

-24.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.84 $41.84

$47.90 $47.90

-12.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$16.59 $16.59

$17.81 $17.81

-6.85%

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

$1,625 $1,625

$1,794 $1,794

-9.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.5K $35.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

11.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$67.0 $67.0

-18.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.2 $63.2

$52.1 $52.1

21.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$102 $102

1.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 $163

$144 $144

13.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,612 $1,612

$2,526 $2,526

-36.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,321 $1,321

$1,578 $1,578

-16.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,500 $2,500

$4,738 $4,738

-47.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 $2,155

$2,693 $2,693

-19.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 $2,749

$4,190 $4,190

-34.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,413 $2,413

$2,768 $2,768

-12.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.81

-0.29%

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

Last update for Montross, VA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Montross, VA

$1.3K 46.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 19.4% $257

Groceries & Markets

Montross, VA

$505 17.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 11.4% $57

Eating Out

Montross, VA

$380 13.5%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 9.3% $35

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montross, VA

$278 9.9%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 17.3% $48

Clothing & Footwear

Montross, VA

$173 6.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 5.2% $8.9

Getting Around

Montross, VA

$84 3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 10.5% $8.9

Sport & Entertainment

Montross, VA

$75 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 11.3% $8.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Montross, VA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98 in Montross, VA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $505 vs $447 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Montross, VA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

04:21 4:21 AM

03:21 3:21 AM

1 h behind Montross, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

400

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Montross, VA Chicago, IL 1,010 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Montross, VA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Montross, VA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,817 in Montross, VA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Montross, VA comes out roughly 7% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,225 per month in Montross, VA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montross, VA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,612 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98 in Montross, VA and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,817 in Montross, VA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Montross, VA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.