Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and College Station, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and College Station, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15.5% more expensive than College Station, TX without rent, and 42.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29.5% more expensive than College Station, TX without rent, and 40.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$13.19 $13.19

57.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$65.4 $65.4

53.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.28 $8.28

44.57%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.83 $4.83

15.11%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.87 $2.87

8.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.6 $1.6

51.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.43 $4.43

54.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.88 $5.88

43.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.9 $0.9

15.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.93 $2.93

41.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.1 $4.1

34.63%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.6 $2.6

78.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.74 $10.74

33.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.6 $8.6

73.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.62 $13.62

42.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.43 $6.43

-19.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.35 $1.35

26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.94 $5.94

-25.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.06 $4.06

11.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.83 $3.83

-33.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.07 $3.07

-10.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.92 $1.92

40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.78 $7.78

95.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$19.16 $19.16

-14.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.3 $3.3

12.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.98 $0.98

158.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$19.62 $19.62

277.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$7.42 $7.42

-54.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$3.8 $3.8

-62.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.65 $28.65

-11.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.79 $0.79

36.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$34.8K $34.8K

-6.72%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

0.21%

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

$188 $188

$192 $192

-1.95%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.37 $44.37

43.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.1 $63.1

3.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$36.32 $36.32

111.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$17.06 $17.06

-23.62%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.19 $11.19

33.42%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,163 $1,163

77.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$18.2K $18.2K

115.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$39.59 $39.59

62.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$38.3 $38.3

36.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87 $87

9.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$152 $152

-4.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,268 $1,268

87.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$950 $950

66.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,966 $1,966

142.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,880 $1,880

49.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,123 $2,123

68.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,126 $2,126

17.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,043 $4,043

30.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.71

-1.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for College Station, TX: October 28, 2025

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