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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,471 in Baytown, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,114 in Baytown, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $3,758 in Baytown, TX.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 29% more expensive than in Baytown, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Baytown, TX 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.60 $19.60

3.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$39.94 $39.94

122.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$11.13 $11.13

18.24%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.66 $5.66

1.94%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.24 $2.24

17.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.99 $1.99

17.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.87 $5.87

20.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$6.57 $6.57

39.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.13 $1.13

15.04%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.19 $3.19

26.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.30 $3.30

72.42%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.84 $3.84

26.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.07 $13.07

15.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$9.84 $9.84

51.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$17.34 $17.34

11.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.37 $4.37

29.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.45 $1.45

33.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.92 $4.92

-16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.97 $4.97

2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.80 $2.80

4.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.69 $2.69

2.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.23 $1.23

86.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.99 $1.99

52.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$7.45 $7.45

113.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.11 $15.11

-0.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.42 $3.42

1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.80 $2.80

17.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.60 $1.60

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$35.60 $35.60

-36.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.74 $0.74

64.86%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$36.3K $36.3K

-0.43%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.88%

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

$188 $188

$198 $198

-4.60%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$39.66 $39.66

73.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$66.5 $66.5

-4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$15.19 $15.19

317.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$8.83 $8.83

102.72%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,512 $1,512

0.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$21.6K $21.6K

47.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$55.1 $55.1

12.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$44.31 $44.31

27.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$90.0 $90.0

12.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$109 $109

43.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,318 $1,318

77.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,289 $1,289

31.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$1,822 $1,822

151.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,345 $1,345

108.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$3,630 $3,630

34.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.44

-0.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Baytown, TX: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,318 in Baytown, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 35% 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: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $40.00 in Baytown, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $381 per month, with Baytown, 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 Baytown, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baytown, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baytown, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% 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: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,318 in Baytown, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,512 in Baytown, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Baytown, TX – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,471 in Baytown, TX versus $3,184 in Chicago, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Baytown, TX but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Baytown, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baytown, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,471 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baytown, TX hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Baytown, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.