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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Reston, VA is 19.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Reston, VA is 22.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.93 $23.93
$20.82 $20.82
14.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105 $105
$100 $100
4.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 $11.21
$11.97 $11.97
-6.35%
Cappuccino
$5.5 $5.5
$5.56 $5.56
-1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 $3.12
$3.11 $3.11
0.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.42 $2.42
6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.6 $7.6
$6.86 $6.86
10.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.88 $7.88
$8.45 $8.45
-6.75%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.2 $1.2
$1.04 $1.04
15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.15 $4.15
-10.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.89 $6.89
$5.52 $5.52
24.82%
Eggs
$5.25 $5.25
$4.65 $4.65
12.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.06 $19.06
$14.33 $14.33
33.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.34 $20.34
$14.88 $14.88
36.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.38 $25.38
$19.34 $19.34
31.23%
Apples (1kg)
$7.34 $7.34
$5.17 $5.17
41.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.71 $1.71
3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$4.41 $4.41
21.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.9 $5.9
$4.51 $4.51
30.82%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.53 $2.53
45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.74 $2.74
18.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.43 $2.43
6.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.7 $2.7
3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.09 $8.09
$15.19 $15.19
-46.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.4 $16.4
$16.42 $16.42
-0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.7 $3.7
-1.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.93 $5.93
$2.53 $2.53
134.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$129 $129
$74.1 $74.1
73.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 $3.93
$3.34 $3.34
17.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.42 $1.42
-4.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.18 $25.18
$25.42 $25.42
-0.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.08 $1.08
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
-17.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 $214
$188 $188
13.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$63.7 $63.7
-16.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.8 $71.8
$65.2 $65.2
10.15%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.2 $98.2
$76.7 $76.7
28.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.38 $30.38
$13.03 $13.03
133.15%
Cinema Ticket
$15.15 $15.15
$14.93 $14.93
1.47%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,859 $1,859
$2,063 $2,063
-9.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$36.1K $36.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-7.83%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.41 $48.41
$64.3 $64.3
-24.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.63 $48.63
$52.4 $52.4
-7.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$95.2 $95.2
-1.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$145 $145
-16.30%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$2,378 $2,378
-17.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,545 $1,545
$1,584 $1,584
-2.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,776 $3,776
$4,763 $4,763
-20.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,208 $3,208
$2,815 $2,815
13.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,503 $6,503
$3,588 $3,588
81.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,232 $4,232
$2,490 $2,490
69.95%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Reston, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,224 $6,224
$5,275 $5,275
17.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Reston, VA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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