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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.8% more expensive than Allen, TX without rent, and 11.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.8% more expensive than Allen, TX without rent, and 25.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.83 $16.83
23.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.2 $64.2
56.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.37 $8.37
43.01%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.95 $4.95
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.74 $2.74
13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.66 $1.66
45.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.07 $6.07
13.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.77 $7.77
8.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.99 $0.99
5.05%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.05 $3.05
36.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.36 $4.36
26.61%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.69 $3.69
26.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.4 $15.4
-6.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.36 $14.36
3.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$18.82 $18.82
2.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.16 $6.16
-16.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.35 $1.35
26.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.04 $6.04
-26.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.13 $5.13
-12.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.98 $3.98
-36.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.06 $4.06
-32.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.25 $2.25
8.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.92 $3.92
-31.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.09 $8.09
87.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.29 $16.29
0.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.93 $2.93
26.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$59.6 $59.6
24.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.93 $2.93
13.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.28 $1.28
10.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.59 $29.59
-14.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.75 $0.75
44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.6K $34.6K
-6.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$184 $184
2.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.45 $44.45
43.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.8 $62.8
3.85%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.8 $42.8
79.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$30.13 $30.13
-56.75%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.62 $13.62
9.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,186 $1,186
73.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.1K $18.1K
116.18%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$38.98 $38.98
64.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$34.84 $34.84
50.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.9 $86.9
9.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$111 $111
29.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,526 $1,526
55.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,360 $1,360
16.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,466 $2,466
93.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,102 $2,102
33.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,755 $3,755
-4.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,962 $2,962
-15.94%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Allen, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,281 $6,281
-16.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.7
-1.49%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Allen, TX: October 28, 2025

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