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

🙂 Solo nomad: Austin, TX is 12.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Austin, TX is 13.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.64 $19.64

$20.82 $20.82

-5.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$100 $100

-24.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.97 $11.97

-16.88%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.56 $5.56

0.90%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.11 $3.11

-15.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.42 $2.42

-9.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.86 $6.86

-14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.45 $8.45

-6.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.04 $1.04

8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.3 $3.3

$4.15 $4.15

-20.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.5 $3.5

$5.52 $5.52

-36.59%

Eggs

$4.4 $4.4

$4.65 $4.65

-5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12 $12

$14.33 $14.33

-16.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$14.88 $14.88

-28.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$19.34 $19.34

-23.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.17 $5.17

-5.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.71 $1.71

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.41 $4.41

2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.51 $4.51

-13.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.53 $2.53

7.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.74 $2.74

0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.43 $2.43

-17.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.7 $2.7

-19.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 $8.86

$15.19 $15.19

-41.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$16.42 $16.42

-8.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.35 $2.35

-0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.7 $3.7

-7.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.53 $2.53

-41.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.82 $42.82

$74.1 $74.1

-42.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.3 $4.3

$3.34 $3.34

28.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.42 $1.42

28.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.63 $34.63

$25.42 $25.42

36.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.08 $1.08

-32.41%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

-21.45%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

0.33%

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

$177 $177

$188 $188

-6.20%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$63.7 $63.7

-7.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 $64.8

$65.2 $65.2

-0.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.6 $62.6

$76.7 $76.7

-18.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 $10.17

$13.03 $13.03

-21.95%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$14.93 $14.93

-1.41%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$2,063 $2,063

-33.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-42.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.3 $56.3

$64.3 $64.3

-12.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.46 $46.46

$52.4 $52.4

-11.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$95.2 $95.2

-8.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$145 $145

-17.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$2,378 $2,378

-8.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,395 $1,395

$1,584 $1,584

-11.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,896 $3,896

$4,763 $4,763

-18.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$2,815 $2,815

-4.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,414 $4,414

$3,588 $3,588

23.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,161 $3,161

$2,490 $2,490

26.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,871 $4,871

$5,275 $5,275

-7.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.6

-2.27%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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