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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arlington, TX is 17.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Arlington, TX is 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.82 $20.82

-4.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$100 $100

-25.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 $9.98

$11.97 $11.97

-16.62%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.11 $3.11

-15.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.42 $2.42

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$6.86 $6.86

-26.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.45 $8.45

-18.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.04 $1.04

-13.46%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.15 $4.15

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$5.52 $5.52

-27.90%

Eggs

$3.49 $3.49

$4.65 $4.65

-24.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 $11.88

$14.33 $14.33

-17.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.91 $11.91

$14.88 $14.88

-19.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.5 $14.5

$19.34 $19.34

-25.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.17 $5.17

-6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.71 $1.71

-1.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.41 $4.41

-1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.51 $4.51

-11.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.53 $2.53

-2.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.74 $2.74

4.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.43 $2.43

-15.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.7 $2.7

-17.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$15.19 $15.19

-41.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 $11.92

$16.42 $16.42

-27.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.35 $2.35

-8.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.7 $3.7

21.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.32 $5.32

$2.53 $2.53

110.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.3 $39.3

$74.1 $74.1

-46.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.34 $3.34

29.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.42 $1.42

-9.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.13 $24.13

$25.42 $25.42

-5.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-22.21%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.25%

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

$200 $200

$188 $188

6.13%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$63.7 $63.7

-5.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 $66.7

$65.2 $65.2

2.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.59 $41.59

$76.7 $76.7

-45.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.68 $13.68

$14.93 $14.93

-8.37%

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

$1,390 $1,390

$2,063 $2,063

-32.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-42.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$64.3 $64.3

-13.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.65 $44.65

$52.4 $52.4

-14.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 $84.6

$95.2 $95.2

-11.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$145 $145

-18.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 $1,616

$2,378 $2,378

-32.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 $1,074

$1,584 $1,584

-32.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,752 $2,752

$4,763 $4,763

-42.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,815 $2,815

-17.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,183 $2,183

$3,588 $3,588

-39.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,116 $2,116

$2,490 $2,490

-15.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,026 $4,026

$5,275 $5,275

-23.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

6.6

-1.21%

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

Last update for Arlington, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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