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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.8% more expensive than Arlington, TX without rent, and 24.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.3% more expensive than Arlington, TX without rent, and 18.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.82 $19.82

5.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.2 $75.2

33.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.98 $9.98

19.94%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.63 $2.63

18.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.09 $2.09

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.03 $5.03

36.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.92 $6.92

22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.9 $0.9

15.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.32 $3.32

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.98 $3.98

38.69%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.49 $3.49

33.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.88 $11.88

20.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.91 $11.91

24.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.5 $14.5

33.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.83 $4.83

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.69 $1.69

1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.35 $4.35

1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.98 $3.98

13.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.46 $2.46

2.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.24 $2.24

20.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.89 $8.89

70.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$11.92 $11.92

37.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.16 $2.16

8.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.49 $4.49

-17.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.32 $5.32

-52.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$39.3 $39.3

88.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.31 $4.31

-22.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.28 $1.28

10.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.13 $24.13

5.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

28.55%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.27%

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

$188 $188

$200 $200

-5.78%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$60.4 $60.4

5.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.7 $66.7

-2.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$41.59 $41.59

84.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.68 $13.68

9.14%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,390 $1,390

48.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$22.4K $22.4K

75.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.3 $55.3

16.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.65 $44.65

17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.6 $84.6

12.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$118 $118

22.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,616 $1,616

47.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,074 $1,074

47.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,752 $2,752

73.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,336 $2,336

20.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,183 $2,183

64.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,116 $2,116

17.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,026 $4,026

31.02%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Arlington, TX: October 27, 2025

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