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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Springfield, VA is 9.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Springfield, VA is 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.9 $19.9
$20.82 $20.82
-4.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 $10.87
$11.97 $11.97
-9.19%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$5.56 $5.56
-6.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$3.11 $3.11
-29.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.42 $2.42
-17.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.99 $4.99
$6.86 $6.86
-27.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 $7.97
$8.45 $8.45
-5.68%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.04 $1.04
-15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.15 $4.15
-11.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$5.52 $5.52
-33.33%
Eggs
$4.46 $4.46
$4.65 $4.65
-4.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 $8.93
$14.33 $14.33
-37.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.31 $12.31
$14.88 $14.88
-17.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.35 $15.35
$19.34 $19.34
-20.63%
Apples (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$5.17 $5.17
7.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.71 $1.71
-30.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.41 $4.41
-14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$4.51 $4.51
-5.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.53 $2.53
4.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.74 $2.74
-1.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.43 $2.43
-18.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.7 $2.7
-18.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.3 $10.3
$15.19 $15.19
-32.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.02 $14.02
$16.42 $16.42
-14.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.35 $2.35
-5.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$3.7 $3.7
13.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.34 $3.34
-26.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.73 $22.73
$25.42 $25.42
-10.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-12.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$188 $188
9.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.7 $58.7
$63.7 $63.7
-7.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$65.2 $65.2
3.76%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.22 $18.22
$76.7 $76.7
-76.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.05 $15.05
$14.93 $14.93
0.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,292 $1,292
$2,063 $2,063
-37.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.5K $31.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-19.56%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55 $55
$64.3 $64.3
-14.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.7 $39.7
$52.4 $52.4
-24.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.2 $78.2
$95.2 $95.2
-17.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$145 $145
-17.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 $1,531
$2,378 $2,378
-35.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,393 $1,393
$1,584 $1,584
-12.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,677 $2,677
$4,763 $4,763
-43.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,397 $3,397
$2,815 $2,815
20.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,111 $3,111
$3,588 $3,588
-13.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,181 $2,181
$2,490 $2,490
-12.43%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Springfield, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,042 $7,042
$5,275 $5,275
33.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.6
-0.30%

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

Last update for Springfield, VA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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