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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,324 in Anna, TX versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,049 in Anna, TX versus $4,599 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,774 in Anna, TX versus $6,092 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Anna, TX is roughly 7% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Anna, TX 142% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.84 $15.84

$19.86 $19.86

-20.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 $70.0

$88.3 $88.3

-20.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.03 $10.03

$13.23 $13.23

-24.19%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.86 $5.86

-13.82%

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

$2.41 $2.41

$2.61 $2.61

-7.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.32 $2.32

-29.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.94 $4.94

$7.03 $7.03

-29.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$9.25 $9.25

-24.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.34 $1.34

-14.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.19 $4.19

-17.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$5.50 $5.50

0.55%

Eggs

$3.73 $3.73

$4.71 $4.71

-20.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.39 $15.39

$14.72 $14.72

4.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$14.53 $14.53

-18.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 $16.37

$19.69 $19.69

-16.86%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.64 $5.64

-24.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.97 $1.97

-12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$4.04 $4.04

10.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$5.07 $5.07

-26.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.94 $2.94

-8.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.92 $2.92

-1.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.28 $2.28

-15.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.12 $3.12

-29.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.47 $9.47

$16.19 $16.19

-41.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.65 $13.65

$15.17 $15.17

-10.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.67 $2.67

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 $4.77

$3.48 $3.48

37.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.54 $2.54

45.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.16 $3.16

-37.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.37 $1.37

-11.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.78 $29.78

$22.66 $22.66

31.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.20 $1.20

-28.33%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$37.0K $37.0K

-4.50%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-3.15%

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

$240 $240

$190 $190

26.55%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$68.5 $68.5

2.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$61.1 $61.1

2.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.16 $41.16

$63.8 $63.8

-35.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.10 $20.10

$27.80 $27.80

-27.70%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 $9.98

$18.28 $18.28

-45.40%

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

$1,186 $1,186

$1,525 $1,525

-22.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.0K $20.0K

$32.0K $32.0K

-37.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 $68.9

$64.0 $64.0

7.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.0 $62.0

$54.4 $54.4

13.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$101 $101

20.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$153 $153

-3.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 $2,197

$2,421 $2,421

-9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 $1,938

$1,690 $1,690

14.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,370 $3,370

$4,584 $4,584

-26.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,924 $3,924

$2,782 $2,782

41.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 $2,759

$4,170 $4,170

-33.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 $2,368

$2,739 $2,739

-13.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$10.1K $10.1K

$4,777 $4,777

112.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.09

6.38

-4.55%

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

Last update for Anna, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,197 in Anna, TX and $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Anna, TX pays 112% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Anna, TX vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $400 vs $465 per month, with Anna, TX cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Anna, TX vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 112% higher in Anna, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,197 in Anna, TX versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,186 in Anna, TX versus $1,525 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $88.0 versus $70.0 in Anna, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Anna, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Anna, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.