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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $3,734 in Anna, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $4,345 in Anna, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,957 in Anna, TX.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 18% less than in Anna, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Anna, TX 179% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$15.02 $15.02

37.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.5 $79.5

26.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.18 $11.18

6.08%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.22 $5.22

6.13%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.62 $2.62

16.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.90 $1.90

30.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.17 $6.17

12.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.04 $6.04

34.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.08 $1.08

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.70 $2.70

44.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.08 $4.08

32.84%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.61 $3.61

24.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.69 $11.69

24.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.15 $11.15

36.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$15.69 $15.69

22.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.30 $4.30

25.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.63 $1.63

3.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.13 $4.13

4.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.46 $4.46

1.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.12 $4.12

-37.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.02 $2.02

19.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.36 $2.36

11.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$11.07 $11.07

35.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$11.91 $11.91

23.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.90 $1.90

30.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.21 $2.21

66.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.65 $3.65

-30.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.80 $2.80

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.23 $1.23

16.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.45 $29.45

-16.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.80 $0.80

36.25%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

7.50%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.07%

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

$183 $183

$234 $234

-21.74%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$73.1 $73.1

-15.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$67.0 $67.0

-2.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$42.77 $42.77

77.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$19.83 $19.83

-34.24%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$10.17 $10.17

45.03%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,558 $1,558

31.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$19.8K $19.8K

94.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$55.7 $55.7

14.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.47 $39.47

30.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$105 $105

-7.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$152 $152

-3.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$2,611 $2,611

-10.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$2,453 $2,453

-35.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$4,133 $4,133

13.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,237 $2,237

21.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,725 $2,725

45.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$3,549 $3,549

-25.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$6,087 $6,087

-22.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.52

1.23%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Anna, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $2,611 in Anna, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Anna, TX pays 29% 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: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $79 in Anna, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $367 per month, with Anna, 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 Anna, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Anna, TX earns 29% less. 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $2,611 in Anna, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,056 in Chicago, IL versus $1,558 in Anna, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $100 versus $79.0 in Anna, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Anna, TX, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Anna, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.