Cost of Living Comparison Between Allen, TX and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Allen, TX and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Allen, TX is 22.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Allen, TX is 16.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83 $16.83
$20.82 $20.82
-19.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 $64.2
$100 $100
-35.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.37 $8.37
$11.97 $11.97
-30.08%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.56 $5.56
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.11 $3.11
-11.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.42 $2.42
-31.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$6.86 $6.86
-11.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77 $7.77
$8.45 $8.45
-8.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.04 $1.04
-4.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 $3.05
$4.15 $4.15
-26.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$5.52 $5.52
-21.01%
Eggs
$3.69 $3.69
$4.65 $4.65
-20.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.4 $15.4
$14.33 $14.33
7.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.36 $14.36
$14.88 $14.88
-3.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.82 $18.82
$19.34 $19.34
-2.69%
Apples (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$5.17 $5.17
19.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.04 $6.04
$4.41 $4.41
36.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$4.51 $4.51
13.75%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.53 $2.53
57.31%
Onion (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.74 $2.74
48.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.43 $2.43
-7.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.92 $3.92
$2.7 $2.7
45.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.09 $8.09
$15.19 $15.19
-46.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.29 $16.29
$16.42 $16.42
-0.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.7 $3.7
-20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.6 $59.6
$74.1 $74.1
-19.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.42 $1.42
-9.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.59 $29.59
$25.42 $25.42
16.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.08 $1.08
-30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K $34.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$188 $188
-2.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.45 $44.45
$63.7 $63.7
-30.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.8 $62.8
$65.2 $65.2
-3.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.8 $42.8
$76.7 $76.7
-44.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.13 $30.13
$13.03 $13.03
131.24%
Cinema Ticket
$13.62 $13.62
$14.93 $14.93
-8.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,186 $1,186
$2,063 $2,063
-42.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K $18.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.98 $38.98
$64.3 $64.3
-39.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.84 $34.84
$52.4 $52.4
-33.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.9 $86.9
$95.2 $95.2
-8.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-22.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,526 $1,526
$2,378 $2,378
-35.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,360 $1,360
$1,584 $1,584
-14.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,466 $2,466
$4,763 $4,763
-48.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 $2,102
$2,815 $2,815
-25.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,755 $3,755
$3,588 $3,588
4.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,962 $2,962
$2,490 $2,490
18.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Allen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,281 $6,281
$5,275 $5,275
19.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.7
6.6
1.52%

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

Last update for Allen, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

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