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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.8% more expensive than Brownsville, TX without rent, and 55.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 63.9% more expensive than Brownsville, TX without rent, and 84.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$10.06 $10.06

106.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$55.9 $55.9

79.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.93 $11.93

0.34%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.88 $4.88

13.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.01 $2.01

54.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.56 $5.56

23.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.43 $7.43

13.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.86 $0.86

20.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.24 $2.24

85.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.23 $2.23

147.53%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.74 $2.74

69.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.44 $9.44

51.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.45 $11.45

29.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$9.64 $9.64

100.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$2.59 $2.59

99.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.67 $1.67

164.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$1.93 $1.93

133.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.58 $5.58

-54.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.08 $1.08

153.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.02 $1.02

138.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$0.97 $0.97

178.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.5 $9.5

59.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$7.7 $7.7

113.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.83 $1.83

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.94 $4.94

-25.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.55 $3.55

-5.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.77 $29.77

-14.61%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

8.34%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.5K $25.5K

2.62%

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

$188 $188

$341 $341

-44.81%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$74.3 $74.3

-14.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$75.7 $75.7

-13.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$50.9 $50.9

50.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.59 $14.59

2.33%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$602 $602

242.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

69.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.7 $51.7

24.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.46 $39.46

32.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$85.7 $85.7

11.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$112 $112

29.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$793 $793

200.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$665 $665

138.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$941 $941

406.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$940 $940

199.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,639 $1,639

118.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,770 $1,770

40.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,207 $4,207

25.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.47

20.66%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Brownsville, TX: October 29, 2025

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