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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,287 in Brownwood, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,364 in Brownwood, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,441 in Brownwood, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 35% more than Brownwood, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Brownwood, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Brownwood, TX by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$13.58 $13.58

53.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$76.2 $76.2

29.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.15 $10.15

17.24%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.90 $4.90

19.18%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.52 $2.52

21.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.83 $1.83

28.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.05 $6.05

13.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.13 $8.13

-0.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.75 $0.75

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.45 $1.45

174.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.01 $2.01

178.61%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$2.09 $2.09

117.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$8.26 $8.26

71.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$8.87 $8.87

67.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$13.31 $13.31

43.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$3.05 $3.05

74.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.25 $1.25

36.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.68 $2.68

58.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.12 $2.12

106.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.18 $2.18

17.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.09 $2.09

33.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.75 $1.75

41.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.44 $2.44

10.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$10.62 $10.62

40.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.23 $15.23

-3.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.70 $1.70

39.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.06 $3.06

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.05 $2.05

19.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.03 $3.03

10.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.84 $1.84

-25.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.56 $29.56

-14.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.71 $0.71

53.52%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$31.5K $31.5K

2.37%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$21.9K $21.9K

20.87%

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

$188 $188

$98.9 $98.9

90.25%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$46.86 $46.86

35.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$39.34 $39.34

68.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.16 $42.16

79.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$10.95 $10.95

35.16%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,356 $1,356

54.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

63.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$54.1 $54.1

19.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$34.81 $34.81

48.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$101 $101

-4.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$98.3 $98.3

48.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,571 $1,571

48.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,379 $1,379

14.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,680 $2,680

78.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,235 $2,235

21.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,411 $2,411

66.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,368 $2,368

13.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.21

6.28%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Brownwood, TX: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,571 in Brownwood, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Brownwood, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $284 – making Brownwood, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Brownwood, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,431 in Brownwood, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Brownwood, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Brownwood, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 57% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Brownwood, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,287, than in Chicago, IL at $3,084. In Brownwood, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Brownwood, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Brownwood, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.