Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Paso, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and El Paso, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.5% more expensive than El Paso, TX without rent, and 40.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23.5% more expensive than El Paso, TX without rent, and 46.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.23 $19.23
8.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$70.1 $70.1
43.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.9 $11.9
0.59%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.23 $6.23
-10.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.74 $2.74
13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.88 $1.88
28.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.94 $4.94
38.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.17 $6.17
36.95%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.42 $2.42
71.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.5 $2.5
120.80%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.68 $3.68
26.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.24 $11.24
27.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.42 $11.42
30.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.19 $12.19
58.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.98 $3.98
29.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.32 $1.32
29.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.16 $4.16
6.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.4 $4.4
2.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.59 $3.59
-29.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.98 $2.98
-8.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.22 $2.22
9.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.54 $1.54
75.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.11 $12.11
25.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$9.77 $9.77
68.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.04 $2.04
15.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.53 $4.53
-18.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.47 $1.47
72.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$47.68 $47.68
55.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.67 $1.67
100.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$26.58 $26.58
-4.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.77 $0.77
40.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.4K $23.4K
38.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$165 $165
14.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$63.2 $63.2
0.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$70.3 $70.3
-7.24%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$25.56 $25.56
200.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$7.91 $7.91
64.73%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.6 $11.6
28.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$575 $575
258.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$7,067 $7,067
454.37%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.03 $40.03
60.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.14 $43.14
21.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$96.5 $96.5
-1.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$173 $173
-16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,072 $1,072
121.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$889 $889
78.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,697 $1,697
180.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,604 $1,604
75.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,797 $1,797
99.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,771 $1,771
40.62%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
El Paso, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,356 $3,356
57.17%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for El Paso, TX: October 29, 2025

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