Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in College Station, TX: $2,100 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
102

Cost of Living Index in College Station, TX
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College Station, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

College Station, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,100

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in College Station, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in College Station, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,100 in College Station, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
College Station, TX $2,100

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,153 in College Station, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
College Station, TX $3,153

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,207 in College Station, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
College Station, TX $4,207

Chicago, IL costs about 49% more than College Station, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and College Station, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, College Station, TX by 55%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$14.98 $14.98

37.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$77.9 $77.9

15.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.08 $12.08

7.12%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.39 $5.39

3.90%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.96 $2.96

-10.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.80 $1.80

26.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.03 $5.03

38.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.36 $7.36

19.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.75 $0.75

69.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.15 $3.15

20.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.79 $3.79

39.84%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$2.92 $2.92

63.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$11.82 $11.82

18.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.81 $9.81

48.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$12.96 $12.96

44.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$6.33 $6.33

-18.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.62 $1.62

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$6.43 $6.43

-38.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.94 $4.94

0.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.07 $4.07

-32.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.98 $2.98

-7.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.76 $1.76

26.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.80 $1.80

65.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.89 $9.89

41.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$13.84 $13.84

10.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.71 $1.71

50.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.86 $3.86

-9.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.02 $1.02

142.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$20.29 $20.29

268.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$10.08 $10.08

-66.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.90 $1.90

-24.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$59.1 $59.1

-58.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.92 $0.92

36.96%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

26.99%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.66%

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

$193 $193

$180 $180

6.85%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$40.02 $40.02

70.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$55.4 $55.4

10.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$24.85 $24.85

117.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$17.24 $17.24

61.95%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$11.16 $11.16

58.96%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$761 $761

116.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$18.1K $18.1K

72.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$59.4 $59.4

11.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$38.19 $38.19

34.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$82.8 $82.8

20.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$123 $123

14.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,131 $1,131

116.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$945 $945

77.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,946 $1,946

142.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,585 $1,585

76.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,185 $2,185

87.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,996 $1,996

32.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$4,396 $4,396

10.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for College Station, TX: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

College Station, TX

$945 45% 43.7% $732

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

College Station, TX

$372 17.7% 17.3% $78

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

College Station, TX

$280 13.3% 18.6% $64

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

College Station, TX

$276 13.1% 14.4% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

College Station, TX

$136 6.5% 15.5% $25

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

College Station, TX

$44 2.1% 53.8% $51

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

College Station, TX

$47 2.3% 47.4% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,131 in College Station, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $78.0 in College Station, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $372 – making College Station, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 College Station, TX

🕒 Local time

07:25 7:25 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

120,511

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL College Station, TX 1,470 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
College Station, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 College Station, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,100 in College Station, TX – roughly 49% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,150 in College Station, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 21% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $78.0 in College Station, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in College Station, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,100, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In College Station, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,100 in College Station, TX to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with College Station, 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.