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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,025 in Abilene, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $3,076 in Abilene, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $4,127 in Abilene, TX.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 51% more expensive than in Abilene, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Abilene, TX 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$13.39 $13.39

50.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$54.1 $54.1

84.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$8.91 $8.91

37.26%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.80 $4.80

16.67%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$1.79 $1.79

74.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$3.97 $3.97

74.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.98 $7.98

2.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.90 $0.90

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.99 $2.99

32.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.84 $4.84

15.29%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$7.95 $7.95

-43.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.50 $11.50

26.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.02 $10.02

50.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.58 $13.58

42.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.66 $4.66

15.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.44 $1.44

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.29 $4.29

0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.37 $3.37

30.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.69 $3.69

-31.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.93 $2.93

-7.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.21 $2.21

12.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.27 $3.27

-20.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.60 $8.60

72.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$11.46 $11.46

32.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.69 $1.69

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.91 $2.91

23.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.54 $1.54

64.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$45.32 $45.32

68.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.91 $2.91

13.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.72 $1.72

-19.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$57.3 $57.3

-55.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.78 $0.78

39.74%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$30.2K $30.2K

4.72%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$22.7K $22.7K

17.16%

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

$186 $186

$190 $190

-2.01%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$46.02 $46.02

36.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$63.8 $63.8

3.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$14.76 $14.76

425.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$11.94 $11.94

23.45%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$867 $867

135.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

69.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$53.9 $53.9

18.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.32 $34.32

49.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$90.2 $90.2

5.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$108 $108

33.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,120 $1,120

105.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$887 $887

77.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$1,720 $1,720

172.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$1,611 $1,611

69.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$1,687 $1,687

140.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$1,696 $1,696

59.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,268 $3,268

53.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Abilene, TX: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,120 in Abilene, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 54% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $54.0 in Abilene, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $384 per month, with Abilene, 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

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

Chicago, IL and Abilene, TX differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($3,068 vs $2,025 including rent). Abilene, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 54% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,120 in Abilene, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abilene, TX – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,025 in Abilene, TX – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,025 in Abilene, TX versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Abilene, TX but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Abilene, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Abilene, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.