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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Roanoke, VA is 18.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 37.2% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Roanoke, VA is 29.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 40.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.36 $20.36
$20.82 $20.82
-2.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.3 $73.3
$100 $100
-26.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 $10.92
$11.97 $11.97
-8.77%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$5.56 $5.56
-6.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$3.11 $3.11
-27.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.42 $2.42
-19.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.67 $3.67
$6.86 $6.86
-46.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93 $3.93
$8.45 $8.45
-53.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.04 $1.04
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.09 $3.09
$4.15 $4.15
-25.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.69 $3.69
$5.52 $5.52
-33.15%
Eggs
$2.91 $2.91
$4.65 $4.65
-37.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.36 $9.36
$14.33 $14.33
-34.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.6 $7.6
$14.88 $14.88
-48.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15 $15
$19.34 $19.34
-22.44%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$5.17 $5.17
-17.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.71 $1.71
-30.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.2 $3.2
$4.41 $4.41
-27.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$4.51 $4.51
-1.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.53 $2.53
-18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.74 $2.74
0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.43 $2.43
-32.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.7 $2.7
-29.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.8 $8.8
$15.19 $15.19
-42.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.17 $11.17
$16.42 $16.42
-31.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.3 $1.3
$3.7 $3.7
-64.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.34 $1.34
$2.53 $2.53
-47.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.6 $83.6
$74.1 $74.1
12.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.34 $3.34
-26.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.42 $1.42
9.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.81 $22.81
$25.42 $25.42
-10.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K $23.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-28.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 $157
$188 $188
-16.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.3 $53.3
$63.7 $63.7
-16.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$65.2 $65.2
-4.19%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.61 $16.61
$76.7 $76.7
-78.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.98 $11.98
$14.93 $14.93
-19.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$398 $398
$2,063 $2,063
-80.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.5K $30.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-22.09%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.63 $28.63
$64.3 $64.3
-55.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.41 $22.41
$52.4 $52.4
-57.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 $78.9
$95.2 $95.2
-17.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$145 $145
-29.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 $1,427
$2,378 $2,378
-39.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$769 $769
$1,584 $1,584
-51.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,017 $2,017
$4,763 $4,763
-57.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 $1,226
$2,815 $2,815
-56.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,957 $1,957
$3,588 $3,588
-45.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 $1,910
$2,490 $2,490
-23.32%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Roanoke, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,331 $3,331
$5,275 $5,275
-36.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.6
-1.21%

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

Last update for Roanoke, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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