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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22% more expensive than Caldwell, TX without rent, and 16.3% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.5% more expensive than Caldwell, TX without rent, and 27.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.04 $19.04
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.9 $74.9
34.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.07 $11.07
8.13%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.98 $4.98
11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.52 $2.52
23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.96 $1.96
23.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.96 $5.96
15.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.21 $7.21
17.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.05 $1.05
-0.95%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.61 $3.61
14.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.23 $4.23
30.50%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.31 $4.31
7.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.1 $12.1
18.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.34 $11.34
31.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.46 $15.46
25.10%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.04 $5.04
2.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.64 $1.64
4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.34 $4.34
1.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.63 $4.63
-2.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.82 $2.82
-10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.87 $2.87
-4.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.05 $2.05
18.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.19 $2.19
23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.33 $9.33
62.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.04 $13.04
25.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.38 $3.38
9.47%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.6 $3.6
-7.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.6 $1.6
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.65 $29.65
-14.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.8K $29.8K
8.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
2.21%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$190 $190
-1.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.8 $52.8
20.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.8 $66.8
-2.37%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.71 $43.71
75.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$10.13 $10.13
28.63%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.31 $13.31
12.17%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,311 $1,311
57.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23K $23K
70.38%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.8 $51.8
24.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.58 $40.58
29.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$85.3 $85.3
11.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
27.45%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,631 $1,631
45.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,364 $1,364
16.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,617 $2,617
82.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,181 $2,181
29.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,767 $2,767
29.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,450 $2,450
1.63%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Caldwell, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$1,356 $1,356
288.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Caldwell, TX: October 29, 2025

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