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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.8% more expensive than Garland, TX without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 31% more expensive than Garland, TX without rent, and 13.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.72 $17.72
17.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.1 $75.1
33.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.02 $10.02
19.46%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.81 $4.81
15.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.58 $2.58
20.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.97 $1.97
22.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.83 $5.83
17.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.01 $8.01
5.49%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1 $1
4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.9 $2.9
43.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.31 $3.31
66.77%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.85 $4.85
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.02 $12.02
19.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.66 $10.66
39.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.72 $14.72
31.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.95 $4.95
4.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.38 $1.38
23.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.71 $3.71
18.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.11 $4.11
9.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.76 $2.76
-8.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.85 $1.85
48.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.93 $1.93
25.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.17 $2.17
24.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.78 $8.78
73.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.27 $13.27
23.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.38 $2.38
-1.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.41 $3.41
8.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.06 $3.06
-17.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$96.8 $96.8
-23.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.05 $3.05
9.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.24 $1.24
14.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$35.51 $35.51
-28.41%
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
$25.5K $25.5K
27.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.7K $26.7K
-1.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$178 $178
5.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.68 $48.68
30.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64.8 $64.8
0.57%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$30.22 $30.22
153.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$16.2 $16.2
-19.57%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.73 $14.73
1.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,324 $1,324
55.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$22.4K $22.4K
75.29%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54 $54
19.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$29.95 $29.95
74.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.9 $86.9
9.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$118 $118
23.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,032 $2,032
17.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,538 $1,538
3.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,647 $3,647
30.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,737 $2,737
2.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,288 $3,288
9.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,924 $1,924
29.42%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Garland, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,826 $3,826
37.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.49
1.69%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Garland, TX: October 29, 2025

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