Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Norfolk, VA: $2,562 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

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

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

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Norfolk, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,562

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,562 per month in Norfolk, VA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Norfolk, VA $2,562
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,683 per month in Norfolk, VA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Norfolk, VA $3,683
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,805 per month in Norfolk, VA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Norfolk, VA $4,805
Chicago, IL $5,999

Norfolk, VA is about 16% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Norfolk, VA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Norfolk, VA by 88%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.23 $18.23

$20.71 $20.71

-11.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$89.2 $89.2

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.43 $11.43

$13.19 $13.19

-13.34%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.66 $5.66

-1.24%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.64 $2.64

4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.28 $2.28

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.87 $6.87

-11.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$8.84 $8.84

-21.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.25 $1.25

-17.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.72 $3.72

2.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$5.39 $5.39

1.30%

Eggs

$4.68 $4.68

$4.74 $4.74

-1.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.56 $15.56

$13.84 $13.84

12.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.10 $10.10

$14.40 $14.40

-29.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.63 $18.63

$18.38 $18.38

1.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$5.22 $5.22

-9.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.98 $1.98

-35.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.06 $4.06

25.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$4.97 $4.97

17.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.67 $2.67

-16.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.66 $2.66

32.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.24 $2.24

-20.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$3.13 $3.13

-31.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.38 $9.38

$13.82 $13.82

-32.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.24 $15.24

$14.88 $14.88

2.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.54 $2.54

-27.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.51 $3.51

-23.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.0 $70.0

$73.5 $73.5

-4.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.57 $4.57

$3.18 $3.18

43.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.39 $1.39

-5.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.06 $18.06

$25.03 $25.03

-27.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 $1.20

-17.50%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$35.0K $35.0K

-23.12%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-4.65%

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

$210 $210

$194 $194

8.08%

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

$57.4 $57.4

$69.5 $69.5

-17.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.0 $67.0

$61.6 $61.6

8.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.43 $40.43

$47.90 $47.90

-15.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.83 $17.83

$27.34 $27.34

-34.78%

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$17.81 $17.81

-32.00%

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

$1,279 $1,279

$1,794 $1,794

-28.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$31.9K $31.9K

-48.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 $58.5

$67.0 $67.0

-12.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 $46.67

$52.1 $52.1

-10.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

0.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$144 $144

-18.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,563 $1,563

$2,526 $2,526

-38.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$1,578 $1,578

-23.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,628 $2,628

$4,738 $4,738

-44.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 $1,737

$2,693 $2,693

-35.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$4,190 $4,190

-37.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,059 $2,059

$2,768 $2,768

-25.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,581 $3,581

$4,931 $4,931

-27.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for Norfolk, VA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Norfolk, VA

$1.2K 46.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 31.2% $375

Groceries & Markets

Norfolk, VA

$415 16.2%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 7.9% $33

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Norfolk, VA

$335 13.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 2.7% $9

Eating Out

Norfolk, VA

$311 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 11% $34

Clothing & Footwear

Norfolk, VA

$146 5.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 12.2% $18

Getting Around

Norfolk, VA

$89 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 5% $4.4

Sport & Entertainment

Norfolk, VA

$65 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 29.2% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,563 in Norfolk, 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.

Salaries run about 38% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Norfolk, VA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $447 – making Norfolk, VA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Norfolk, VA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

20:13 8:13 PM

19:13 7:13 PM

1 h behind Norfolk, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

242,803

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Norfolk, VA Chicago, IL 1,120 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Norfolk, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,562 in Norfolk, VA, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Norfolk, VA comes out roughly 16% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,843 per month in Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, VA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,563 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Norfolk, VA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Norfolk, VA, where all-in costs run around $2,562, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Norfolk, VA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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