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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,154 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,259 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,364 in El Paso, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 40% more than El Paso, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and El Paso, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, El Paso, TX by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$18.63 $18.63

9.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$69.2 $69.2

46.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$11.79 $11.79

1.61%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$6.51 $6.51

-12.44%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.75 $2.75

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.93 $1.93

27.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.03 $5.03

36.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.11 $6.11

32.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.86 $0.86

19.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.48 $2.48

59.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.59 $2.59

109.27%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.68 $3.68

22.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.39 $11.39

27.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.17 $11.17

33.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$11.94 $11.94

58.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$3.99 $3.99

35.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.27 $1.27

39.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.03 $4.03

7.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.32 $4.32

4.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.43 $3.43

-26.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.90 $2.90

-3.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.19 $2.19

14.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.54 $1.54

73.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.23 $12.23

21.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$8.21 $8.21

85.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.11 $2.11

16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.72 $4.72

-25.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.46 $1.46

75.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$47.55 $47.55

56.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.63 $1.63

95.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.37 $1.37

2.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$27.32 $27.32

-6.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.73 $0.73

42.47%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$23.5K $23.5K

37.06%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.09%

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

$184 $184

$164 $164

11.80%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$64.6 $64.6

-2.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$70.8 $70.8

-6.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$25.25 $25.25

200.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

$7.67 $7.67

70.27%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$11.56 $11.56

31.92%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$572 $572

265.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$7,041 $7,041

457.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$40.18 $40.18

59.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$43.03 $43.03

18.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$96.0 $96.0

1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$173 $173

-14.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,038 $1,038

125.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$880 $880

78.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$1,700 $1,700

178.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$1,597 $1,597

76.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$1,778 $1,778

119.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$1,788 $1,788

47.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,302 $3,302

44.42%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for El Paso, TX: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,038 in El Paso, 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 44% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $69.0 in El Paso, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $329 – making El Paso, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 El Paso, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,154 in El Paso, TX – roughly 40% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,231 in El Paso, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,154, than in Chicago, IL at $3,009. In El Paso, 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 $2,154 in El Paso, TX to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with El Paso, 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.