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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,576 in Caldwell, TX versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,732 in Caldwell, TX versus $4,637 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,889 in Caldwell, TX versus $6,191 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Caldwell, TX costs roughly 16% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Caldwell, TX 93% above, Chicago, IL 131% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.81 $18.81

$20.81 $20.81

-9.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.5 $75.5

$98.6 $98.6

-23.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.80 $10.80

$11.90 $11.90

-9.24%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$5.84 $5.84

-12.33%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$3.07 $3.07

-17.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.35 $2.35

-13.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$6.87 $6.87

-13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$8.07 $8.07

-13.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.98 $3.98

-10.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.60 $5.60

-22.86%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$4.55 $4.55

-8.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.44 $12.44

$14.20 $14.20

-12.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.35 $11.35

$14.90 $14.90

-23.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.18 $15.18

$19.08 $19.08

-20.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.31 $5.31

-5.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.71 $1.71

-7.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.24 $4.24

1.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$4.37 $4.37

7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.56 $2.56

13.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.80 $2.80

0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.47 $2.47

-18.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.70 $2.70

-18.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.66 $9.66

$14.95 $14.95

-35.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.83 $15.83

$14.73 $14.73

7.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.37 $2.37

-25.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 $3.33

$3.57 $3.57

-6.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.44 $2.44

-19.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.35 $3.35

7.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.37 $1.37

19.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.41 $29.41

$25.29 $25.29

16.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.09 $1.09

-18.35%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$32.3K $32.3K

-8.92%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.4K $26.4K

-4.27%

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

$184 $184

$188 $188

-2.18%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$63.3 $63.3

-15.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.0 $68.0

$66.2 $66.2

2.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.31 $43.31

$75.6 $75.6

-42.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 $10.16

$13.20 $13.20

-23.03%

Cinema Ticket

$13.75 $13.75

$14.80 $14.80

-7.09%

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

$1,312 $1,312

$2,097 $2,097

-37.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$38.5K $38.5K

-39.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 $50.4

$64.9 $64.9

-22.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 $39.96

$51.6 $51.6

-22.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 $86.7

$96.3 $96.3

-9.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$146 $146

-24.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,332 $2,332

-32.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 $1,341

$1,579 $1,579

-15.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$4,775 $4,775

-45.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 $2,198

$2,725 $2,725

-19.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,747 $2,747

$4,023 $4,023

-31.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,393 $2,393

$2,684 $2,684

-10.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,350 $1,350

$4,981 $4,981

-72.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Caldwell, TX: July 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,584 in Caldwell, TX and $2,332 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 269% 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: $75.0 in Caldwell, TX vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $445 per month, with Caldwell, 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

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

Caldwell, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Caldwell, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 269% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,584 in Caldwell, TX versus $2,332 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,312 in Caldwell, TX versus $2,097 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 Caldwell, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Caldwell, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Caldwell, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,576 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Caldwell, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Caldwell, TX and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Caldwell, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.