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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,576 in Caldwell, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,732 in Caldwell, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,889 in Caldwell, TX.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 20% more expensive than in Caldwell, TX, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Caldwell, TX 93% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$18.81 $18.81

10.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$75.5 $75.5

30.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.80 $10.80

10.19%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.12 $5.12

14.06%

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

$2.03 $2.03

15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.93 $5.93

15.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.95 $6.95

16.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.56 $3.56

11.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.32 $4.32

29.63%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.16 $4.16

9.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.44 $12.44

14.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.35 $11.35

31.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.18 $15.18

25.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.04 $5.04

5.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.58 $1.58

8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.29 $4.29

-1.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.70 $4.70

-7.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.90 $2.90

-11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.81 $2.81

-0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.01 $2.01

22.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.19 $2.19

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.66 $9.66

54.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.83 $15.83

-6.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.77 $1.77

33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.33 $3.33

7.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.96 $1.96

24.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.60 $3.60

-6.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.64 $1.64

-16.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.41 $29.41

-14.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

9.80%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

4.46%

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

$188 $188

$184 $184

2.23%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$53.3 $53.3

18.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.0 $68.0

-2.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.31 $43.31

74.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

$10.16 $10.16

29.92%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.75 $13.75

7.64%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,312 $1,312

59.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.1K $23.1K

66.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.4 $50.4

28.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.96 $39.96

29.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$86.7 $86.7

11.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$110 $110

32.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,584 $1,584

47.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,341 $1,341

17.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,606 $2,606

83.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,198 $2,198

23.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,747 $2,747

46.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,393 $2,393

12.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$1,350 $1,350

269.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Caldwell, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,584 in Caldwell, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 269% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Caldwell, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $391 per month, with Caldwell, 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 Caldwell, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Caldwell, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Caldwell, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 269% 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: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,584 in Caldwell, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,312 in Caldwell, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Caldwell, TX – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Caldwell, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Caldwell, TX delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,576 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Caldwell, TX hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Caldwell, TX are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Caldwell, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.