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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Williamsburg, VA is 15% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Williamsburg, VA is 20.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.11 $20.11
$20.82 $20.82
-3.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 $79.8
$100 $100
-20.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.57 $13.57
$11.97 $11.97
13.37%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.56 $5.56
1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.11 $3.11
-8.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.98 $5.98
$6.86 $6.86
-12.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.32 $7.32
$8.45 $8.45
-13.37%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.04 $1.04
-8.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.2 $3.2
$4.15 $4.15
-22.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.52 $5.52
-28.99%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$4.65 $4.65
-22.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.11 $13.11
$14.33 $14.33
-8.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 $8.34
$14.88 $14.88
-43.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$19.34 $19.34
-23.53%
Apples (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$5.17 $5.17
31.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.71 $1.71
-24.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.41 $4.41
6.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$4.51 $4.51
-22.39%
Potato (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$2.53 $2.53
42.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.74 $2.74
1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.43 $2.43
-36.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.7 $2.7
-36.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.33 $6.33
$15.19 $15.19
-58.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 $10.28
$16.42 $16.42
-37.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.35 $2.35
11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 $3.81
$3.7 $3.7
2.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
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)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.34 $3.34
7.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.42 $1.42
71.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.26 $29.26
$25.42 $25.42
15.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.08 $1.08
-24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.90%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$188 $188
-0.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.1 $56.1
$63.7 $63.7
-11.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8 $66.8
$65.2 $65.2
2.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.6 $96.6
$76.7 $76.7
25.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.54 $24.54
$13.03 $13.03
88.33%
Cinema Ticket
$15.14 $15.14
$14.93 $14.93
1.41%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,760 $1,760
$2,063 $2,063
-14.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.51%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.68 $37.68
$64.3 $64.3
-41.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.52 $34.52
$52.4 $52.4
-34.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 $97.1
$95.2 $95.2
2.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 $155
$145 $145
7.44%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,430 $2,430
$2,378 $2,378
2.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,546 $1,546
$1,584 $1,584
-2.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,674 $2,674
$4,763 $4,763
-43.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,553 $2,553
$2,815 $2,815
-9.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,195 $2,195
$3,588 $3,588
-38.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 $1,701
$2,490 $2,490
-31.67%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Williamsburg, VA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,375 $4,375
$5,275 $5,275
-17.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.6
-

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Williamsburg, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.