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

🙂 Solo nomad: Brownsville, TX is 22.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Brownsville, TX is 39% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 45.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 $10.06

$20.82 $20.82

-51.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.9 $55.9

$100 $100

-44.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$11.97 $11.97

-0.33%

Cappuccino

$4.88 $4.88

$5.56 $5.56

-12.23%

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

$2.01 $2.01

$3.11 $3.11

-35.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.42 $2.42

-19.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.56 $5.56

$6.86 $6.86

-18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 $7.43

$8.45 $8.45

-12.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.04 $1.04

-17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 $2.24

$4.15 $4.15

-46.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$5.52 $5.52

-59.60%

Eggs

$2.74 $2.74

$4.65 $4.65

-41.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$14.33 $14.33

-34.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

$14.88 $14.88

-23.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.64 $9.64

$19.34 $19.34

-50.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$5.17 $5.17

-49.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$4.41 $4.41

-62.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$4.51 $4.51

-57.21%

Potato (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.53 $2.53

120.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.74 $2.74

-60.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.43 $2.43

-58.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.7 $2.7

-64.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.5 $9.5

$15.19 $15.19

-37.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.7 $7.7

$16.42 $16.42

-53.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.35 $2.35

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.7 $3.7

33.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.34 $3.34

6.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.42 $1.42

11.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.77 $29.77

$25.42 $25.42

17.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.70%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.56%

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

$341 $341

$188 $188

81.18%

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

$74.3 $74.3

$63.7 $63.7

16.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.7 $75.7

$65.2 $65.2

16.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 $50.9

$76.7 $76.7

-33.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.59 $14.59

$14.93 $14.93

-2.28%

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

$602 $602

$2,063 $2,063

-70.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-41.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$64.3 $64.3

-19.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.46 $39.46

$52.4 $52.4

-24.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$95.2 $95.2

-9.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$145 $145

-22.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$793 $793

$2,378 $2,378

-66.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 $665

$1,584 $1,584

-58.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$941 $941

$4,763 $4,763

-80.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$940 $940

$2,815 $2,815

-66.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,639 $1,639

$3,588 $3,588

-54.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,770 $1,770

$2,490 $2,490

-28.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,207 $4,207

$5,275 $5,275

-20.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

6.6

-17.12%

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

Last update for Brownsville, TX: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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