Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,540/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $1,540 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 17% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,496
+26% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,357
+8% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,559
+11% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,857
+19% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$366,300
+16% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$90,685
+21% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,430
+10% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
37.4 yr
+1.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
45.5%
64.9%
+19.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
40.4%
+2.9 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
23.2 min
+10.3 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
96.7
+82% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
1,664.3
+52% in Chicago, IL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
59.9°F
+7.2°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
44.3 in
+6.4 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.82/gal
$4.30/gal
+11% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Chicago, IL

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.9
17.1
+10% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.10
$18.75
+55% in Virginia Beach, VA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Chicago, IL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Chicago, IL

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / VA)
6.25%
5.3%
+1.0 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
5.75%
+0.8 pp in VA

Chicago vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Virginia Beach?
Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Virginia Beach?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).