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

🙂 Solo nomad: Stafford, VA is 16.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Stafford, VA is 0.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.52 $17.52

$20.82 $20.82

-15.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$100 $100

18.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$11.97 $11.97

1.50%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$5.56 $5.56

-0.18%

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

$3.11 $3.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.42 $2.42

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.18 $7.18

$6.86 $6.86

4.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.87 $9.87

$8.45 $8.45

16.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.04 $1.04

10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.15 $4.15

-25.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.07 $7.07

$5.52 $5.52

28.08%

Eggs

$4.42 $4.42

$4.65 $4.65

-4.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$14.33 $14.33

21.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.14 $11.14

$14.88 $14.88

-25.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.46 $19.46

$19.34 $19.34

0.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$5.17 $5.17

21.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.71 $1.71

20.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$4.41 $4.41

19.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$4.51 $4.51

39.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.53 $2.53

37.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.74 $2.74

37.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.43 $2.43

6.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.7 $2.7

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.31 $12.31

$15.19 $15.19

-18.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.99 $15.99

$16.42 $16.42

-2.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.9 $2.9

$2.35 $2.35

23.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 $4.48

$3.7 $3.7

21.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.53 $2.53

-22.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.34 $3.34

17.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.42 $1.42

6.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.6 $29.6

$25.42 $25.42

16.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.08 $1.08

-17.59%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-9.15%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.14%

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

$137 $137

$188 $188

-27.00%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$63.7 $63.7

-7.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$65.2 $65.2

5.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.19 $43.19

$76.7 $76.7

-43.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$17.1 $17.1

$14.93 $14.93

14.53%

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

$2,698 $2,698

$2,063 $2,063

30.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.5K $39.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

0.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.8 $80.8

$64.3 $64.3

25.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51 $51

$52.4 $52.4

-2.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$95.2 $95.2

8.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$145 $145

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$2,378 $2,378

-31.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 $1,366

$1,584 $1,584

-13.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,622 $2,622

$4,763 $4,763

-44.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,180 $2,180

$2,815 $2,815

-22.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,173 $3,173

$3,588 $3,588

-11.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,447 $2,447

$2,490 $2,490

-1.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,624 $7,624

$5,275 $5,275

44.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

-9.09%

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

Last update for Stafford, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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