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

🙂 Solo nomad: Norfolk, VA is 7.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Norfolk, VA is 9.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.45 $19.45
$20.82 $20.82
-6.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74 $74
$100 $100
-26.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.1 $12.1
$11.97 $11.97
1.09%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$5.56 $5.56
-5.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$3.11 $3.11
-25.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.42 $2.42
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 $5.88
$6.86 $6.86
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$8.45 $8.45
-15.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.04 $1.04
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.15 $4.15
-1.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.52 $5.52
0.91%
Eggs
$4.67 $4.67
$4.65 $4.65
0.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.56 $13.56
$14.33 $14.33
-5.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.33 $11.33
$14.88 $14.88
-23.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.48 $16.48
$19.34 $19.34
-14.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$5.17 $5.17
-7.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.71 $1.71
-15.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.8 $5.8
$4.41 $4.41
31.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$4.51 $4.51
37.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.53 $2.53
-9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.74 $2.74
13.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.43 $2.43
-29.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.7 $2.7
-18.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.85 $8.85
$15.19 $15.19
-41.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.14 $15.14
$16.42 $16.42
-7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$3.7 $3.7
-15.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$103 $103
$74.1 $74.1
38.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 $4.56
$3.34 $3.34
36.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.42 $1.42
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.97 $14.97
$25.42 $25.42
-41.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$188 $188
0.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.89 $48.89
$63.7 $63.7
-23.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.4 $71.4
$65.2 $65.2
9.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.8 $39.8
$76.7 $76.7
-48.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 $17.26
$13.03 $13.03
32.46%
Cinema Ticket
$11.92 $11.92
$14.93 $14.93
-20.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,491 $1,491
$2,063 $2,063
-27.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K $16.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-58.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7 $60.7
$64.3 $64.3
-5.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.15 $46.15
$52.4 $52.4
-11.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 $99.9
$95.2 $95.2
4.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$145 $145
-4.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 $1,889
$2,378 $2,378
-20.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,600 $1,600
$1,584 $1,584
0.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,451 $2,451
$4,763 $4,763
-48.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,294 $2,294
$2,815 $2,815
-18.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,498 $2,498
$3,588 $3,588
-30.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,987 $1,987
$2,490 $2,490
-20.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Norfolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,478 $3,478
$5,275 $5,275
-34.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for Norfolk, VA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.