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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.7% more expensive than Denton, TX without rent, and 34% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 50.4% more expensive than Denton, TX without rent, and 42.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$15.11 $15.11
37.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.2 $64.2
56.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.19 $9.19
30.25%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.74 $4.74
17.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.05 $2.05
51.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.67 $1.67
44.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.81 $5.81
18.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.89 $5.89
43.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.82 $0.82
26.83%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.7 $2.7
53.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.94 $3.94
40.10%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.81 $3.81
22.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.33 $11.33
26.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.55 $10.55
41.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.54 $11.54
67.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.47 $4.47
15.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.44 $1.44
18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.35 $4.35
1.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.56 $4.56
-1.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3 $3
-15.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.25 $2.25
21.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.73 $1.73
40.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.39 $2.39
12.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.8 $10.8
40.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.25 $14.25
15.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.72 $1.72
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.23 $2.23
65.92%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$47.08 $47.08
57.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.29 $2.29
45.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.21 $1.21
17.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$30.33 $30.33
-16.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.8 $0.8
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.3K $24.3K
33.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
13.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$232 $232
-19.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$73.1 $73.1
-12.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$81.1 $81.1
-19.65%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$26.29 $26.29
191.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.13 $10.13
47.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,574 $1,574
31.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.47%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$44.47 $44.47
44.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.34 $38.34
36.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$58.7 $58.7
62.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$74.5 $74.5
94.07%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,402 $1,402
69.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,052 $1,052
50.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,837 $2,837
67.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,861 $1,861
51.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$6,392 $6,392
-43.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$4,700 $4,700
-47.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Denton, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,168 $4,168
26.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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 Denton, TX: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.