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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,708 in Allen, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $4,003 in Allen, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $5,297 in Allen, TX.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 15% more expensive than in Allen, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Allen, TX 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$18.97 $18.97

4.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$59.8 $59.8

47.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.53 $11.53

14.74%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.11 $5.11

14.68%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.12 $2.12

23.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.86 $1.86

24.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$5.97 $5.97

17.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.36 $8.36

10.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.00 $1.00

34.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.74 $2.74

52.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.13 $2.13

158.22%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.14 $5.14

-8.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$11.18 $11.18

31.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$10.70 $10.70

35.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$16.17 $16.17

21.77%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.01 $3.01

87.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.47 $1.47

34.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$2.95 $2.95

36.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.42 $2.42

109.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.17 $2.17

35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.85 $1.85

57.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.96 $1.96

16.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.47 $2.47

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$11.13 $11.13

45.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$11.39 $11.39

33.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.91 $1.91

39.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.09 $3.09

12.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.92 $2.92

-13.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$59.7 $59.7

27.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.78 $2.78

13.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.24 $1.24

10.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$30.37 $30.37

-25.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.78 $0.78

53.85%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$34.8K $34.8K

6.45%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.75%

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

$190 $190

$163 $163

16.43%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$72.0 $72.0

-4.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$71.0 $71.0

-14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$73.8 $73.8

-13.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

$29.90 $29.90

-7.02%

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$11.79 $11.79

55.05%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,593 $1,593

-4.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$23.8K $23.8K

34.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$55.3 $55.3

15.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$28.19 $28.19

92.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$100 $100

0.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$101 $101

51.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,527 $1,527

58.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,499 $1,499

12.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,532 $2,532

81.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,541 $2,541

9.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$3,748 $3,748

11.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,975 $2,975

-7.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

$6,043 $6,043

-20.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.1

4.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Allen, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,527 in Allen, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Allen, TX pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $60.0 in Allen, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $336 per month, with Allen, 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 Allen, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Allen, TX differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($3,106 vs $2,708 including rent). Allen, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Allen, TX. 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,527 in Allen, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Allen, TX – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Allen, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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 Allen, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.