Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Newport News, VA and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Newport News, VA: $2,738 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

133

Cost of Living Index in Newport News, VA
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Newport News, VA Living Index
153

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

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Newport News, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,738

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Newport News, 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 Newport News, VA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,738 per month in Newport News, VA vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Newport News, VA $2,738
Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $3,798 per month in Newport News, VA vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Newport News, VA $3,798
Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $4,858 per month in Newport News, VA vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Newport News, VA $4,858
Chicago, IL $6,077

Newport News, VA is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Newport News, VA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Newport News, VA by 103%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.29 $28.29

$21.58 $21.58

31.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 $60.8

$88.7 $88.7

-31.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.44 $10.44

$13.20 $13.20

-20.91%

Cappuccino

$6.17 $6.17

$5.59 $5.59

10.38%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.63 $2.63

-0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.26 $2.26

-9.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$7.11 $7.11

10.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$9.23 $9.23

-15.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.28 $1.28

-25.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.84 $3.84

-8.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$5.07 $5.07

-33.73%

Eggs

$2.86 $2.86

$4.84 $4.84

-40.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 $7.51

$14.17 $14.17

-47.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$14.61 $14.61

-23.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.66 $18.66

$18.76 $18.76

-0.53%

Apples (1kg)

$6.95 $6.95

$5.19 $5.19

33.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.00 $2.00

-48.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.00 $4.00

23.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.98 $4.98

-18.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.79 $2.79

-4.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.65 $2.65

18.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.13 $2.13

-5.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.09 $3.09

-13.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.74 $7.74

$16.05 $16.05

-51.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.06 $16.06

$15.20 $15.20

5.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.62 $2.62

-32.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.46 $3.46

61.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.47 $2.47

17.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.13 $40.13

$75.1 $75.1

-46.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.21 $3.21

21.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.39 $1.39

-5.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.22 $25.22

$25.02 $25.02

0.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.24 $1.24

-20.97%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$37.2K $37.2K

-0.51%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.87%

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

$209 $209

$192 $192

8.80%

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

$79.9 $79.9

$67.8 $67.8

17.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.8 $78.8

$60.9 $60.9

29.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.56 $39.56

$53.6 $53.6

-26.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

Cinema Ticket

$13.31 $13.31

$17.80 $17.80

-25.22%

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

$3,164 $3,164

$1,554 $1,554

103.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.7K $40.7K

$31.4K $31.4K

29.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$67.9 $67.9

-20.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.64 $44.64

$50.8 $50.8

-12.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$101 $101

1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$143 $143

-13.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$2,383 $2,383

-40.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 $1,299

$1,712 $1,712

-24.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,324 $2,324

$4,674 $4,674

-50.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 $1,792

$2,738 $2,738

-34.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 $2,245

$4,158 $4,158

-46.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,236 $2,236

$2,691 $2,691

-16.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,938 $3,938

$4,894 $4,894

-19.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.77

-3.40%

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

Last update for Newport News, VA: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Newport News, VA

$1.3K 47.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 31.8% $413

Eating Out

Newport News, VA

$405 14.8%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 12.9% $52

Groceries & Markets

Newport News, VA

$391 14.3%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 15.3% $60

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Newport News, VA

$368 13.4%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 12.8% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Newport News, VA

$146 5.3%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1% 11.7% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Newport News, VA

$66 2.4%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8% 34.7% $23

Getting Around

Newport News, VA

$62 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 52.7% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Newport News, VA versus $2,383 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.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Newport News, VA versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $451 – making Newport News, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Newport News, VA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:03 10:03 AM

09:03 9:03 AM

1 h behind Newport News, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

186,247

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Newport News, VA Chicago, IL 1,100 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Newport News, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,738 in Newport News, VA, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 16% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,108 per month in Newport News, VA and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Newport News, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Newport News, VA and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,738 in Newport News, VA and $3,185 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,738 in Newport News, VA to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Newport News, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.