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

🙂 Solo nomad: Suffolk, VA is 22.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 30.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Suffolk, VA is 24.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.08 $22.08
$20.82 $20.82
6.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80 $80
$100 $100
-20.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.22 $12.22
$11.97 $11.97
2.09%
Cappuccino
$5.32 $5.32
$5.56 $5.56
-4.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$3.11 $3.11
-37.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.42 $2.42
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.07 $4.07
$6.86 $6.86
-40.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 $5.09
$8.45 $8.45
-39.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.04 $1.04
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 $2.27
$4.15 $4.15
-45.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$5.52 $5.52
-51.81%
Eggs
$4.01 $4.01
$4.65 $4.65
-13.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$14.33 $14.33
-76.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.18 $5.18
$14.88 $14.88
-65.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.23 $15.23
$19.34 $19.34
-21.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 $4.09
$5.17 $5.17
-20.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.71 $1.71
-6.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 $3.12
$4.41 $4.41
-29.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.3 $4.3
$4.51 $4.51
-4.66%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.53 $2.53
41.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.74 $2.74
18.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.43 $2.43
-30.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.7 $2.7
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08 $5.08
$15.19 $15.19
-66.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.92 $14.92
$16.42 $16.42
-9.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 $3.76
$3.7 $3.7
1.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Suffolk, 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)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.34 $3.34
-41.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.42 $1.42
0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.7 $28.7
$25.42 $25.42
12.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$10.8K $10.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-66.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K $15.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-41.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 $150
$188 $188
-20.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3 $52.3
$63.7 $63.7
-17.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2 $66.2
$65.2 $65.2
1.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.4 $42.4
$76.7 $76.7
-44.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.6 $13.6
$14.93 $14.93
-8.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$872 $872
$2,063 $2,063
-57.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.09 $20.09
$64.3 $64.3
-68.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.91 $47.91
$52.4 $52.4
-8.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.84 $39.84
$145 $145
-72.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 $1,103
$2,378 $2,378
-53.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$998 $998
$1,584 $1,584
-37.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,007 $2,007
$4,763 $4,763
-57.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 $1,678
$2,815 $2,815
-40.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,415 $2,415
$3,588 $3,588
-32.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,429 $2,429
$2,490 $2,490
-2.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suffolk, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,352 $4,352
$5,275 $5,275
-17.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
6.6
-13.94%

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

Last update for Suffolk, VA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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