Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Springfield, VA: $2,904 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

141

Cost of Living Index in Springfield, VA
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Springfield, VA Living Index
152

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

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Springfield, VA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,904

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,904 per month in Springfield, VA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Springfield, VA $2,904
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,606 per month in Springfield, VA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Springfield, VA $4,606
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $6,307 per month in Springfield, VA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Springfield, VA $6,307
Chicago, IL $6,115

Springfield, VA is about 7% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Springfield, VA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Springfield, VA by 114%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.30 $18.30

$20.65 $20.65

-11.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.4 $94.4

$90.2 $90.2

4.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.49 $10.49

$12.94 $12.94

-18.93%

Cappuccino

$5.40 $5.40

$5.60 $5.60

-3.57%

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

$3.27 $3.27

$2.64 $2.64

23.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.27 $2.27

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.91 $6.91

$6.98 $6.98

-1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$8.83 $8.83

-8.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.27 $1.27

-9.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.80 $3.80

3.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.30 $5.30

-21.89%

Eggs

$4.80 $4.80

$4.76 $4.76

0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.66 $12.66

$13.96 $13.96

-9.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$14.61 $14.61

-10.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.39 $18.39

$18.77 $18.77

-2.02%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$5.19 $5.19

16.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.98 $1.98

-20.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.93 $3.93

29.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$4.96 $4.96

-2.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.76 $2.76

0.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.76 $2.76

3.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.22 $2.22

9.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.98 $2.98

-24.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.28 $13.28

$14.02 $14.02

-5.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.77 $15.77

$15.28 $15.28

3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.58 $2.58

3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.50 $3.50

13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 $1.81

$3.34 $3.34

-45.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.43 $1.43

-5.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.74 $23.74

$24.32 $24.32

-2.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-1.71%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.43%

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

$210 $210

$193 $193

8.75%

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

$73.9 $73.9

$68.3 $68.3

8.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.9 $76.9

$61.3 $61.3

25.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.15 $18.15

$54.1 $54.1

-66.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$14.96 $14.96

$17.74 $17.74

-15.67%

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

$1,938 $1,938

$1,652 $1,652

17.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.4K $34.4K

$31.1K $31.1K

10.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$66.1 $66.1

-18.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.30 $44.30

$51.2 $51.2

-13.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 $91.7

$100 $100

-8.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$141 $141

-21.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$2,446 $2,446

-35.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$1,678 $1,678

-4.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,840 $2,840

$4,717 $4,717

-39.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,362 $3,362

$2,795 $2,795

20.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,872 $6,872

$4,866 $4,866

41.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.72

6.81

-1.32%

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

Last update for Springfield, VA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Springfield, VA

$1.6K 55.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 4.7% $75

Groceries & Markets

Springfield, VA

$433 14.9%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 3.8% $17

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Springfield, VA

$360 12.4%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 10.6% $38

Eating Out

Springfield, VA

$317 10.9%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 8.5% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Springfield, VA

$135 4.7%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 19.4% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Springfield, VA

$48 1.7%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 86.4% $42

Getting Around

Springfield, VA

$8.5 * 0.3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 1014% $87

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,571 in Springfield, VA versus $2,446 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 41% higher in Springfield, VA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Springfield, VA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $433 in Springfield, VA vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Springfield, VA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Springfield, VA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

12:05 12:05 PM

11:05 11:05 AM

1 h behind Springfield, VA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

116,482

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Springfield, VA Chicago, IL 950 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Springfield, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,904 in Springfield, VA, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 8% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,356 per month in Springfield, VA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Springfield, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Springfield, VA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,904 in Springfield, VA and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,904 in Springfield, VA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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