Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grapevine, TX: $2,230 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
108

Cost of Living Index in Grapevine, TX
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Grapevine, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Grapevine, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,230

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Grapevine, 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 Grapevine, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,230 in Grapevine, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Grapevine, TX $2,230

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,541 in Grapevine, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Grapevine, TX $3,541

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,852 in Grapevine, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Grapevine, TX $4,852

Chicago, IL costs about 36% more than Grapevine, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Grapevine, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Grapevine, TX by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$18.21 $18.21

13.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$79.7 $79.7

11.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$8.36 $8.36

57.78%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.85 $4.85

16.70%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.59 $2.59

1.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.58 $1.58

44.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.88 $5.88

16.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.89 $5.89

50.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.85 $0.85

47.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.95 $2.95

26.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.93 $2.93

83.96%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.83 $2.83

67.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$9.74 $9.74

42.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.80 $9.80

46.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$12.85 $12.85

43.04%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.57 $4.57

14.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.54 $1.54

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.37 $3.37

20.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.69 $2.69

84.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.49 $1.49

79.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.88 $1.88

41.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.51 $1.51

48.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.86 $1.86

68.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.15 $10.15

36.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.42 $11.42

30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.70 $1.70

49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.91 $3.91

-10.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.22 $3.22

-1.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.51 $1.51

-7.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$29.67 $29.67

-15.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.87 $0.87

37.93%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

27.45%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$20.2K $20.2K

31.76%

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

$194 $194

$148 $148

31.75%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$49.66 $49.66

39.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$67.4 $67.4

-8.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$23.45 $23.45

104.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$10.06 $10.06

77.04%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$662 $662

170.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$20.2K $20.2K

58.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$41.69 $41.69

60.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$25.20 $25.20

106.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$79.0 $79.0

28.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$106 $106

35.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,507 $1,507

67.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,198 $1,198

31.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,818 $2,818

68.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,482 $2,482

8.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,815 $5,815

-15.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.78

0.44%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Grapevine, TX: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Grapevine, TX

$1.2K 53.7% 24.1% $380

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Grapevine, TX

$313 14% 30.1% $135

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Grapevine, TX

$287 12.9% 16.8% $58

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Grapevine, TX

$265 11.9% 18.7% $61

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Grapevine, TX

$113 5.1% 30.9% $51

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Grapevine, TX

$11 * 0.5% 88.5% $83

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Grapevine, TX

$44 2% 47.8% $40

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,507 in Grapevine, 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 18% higher in Grapevine, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $80 in Grapevine, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $313 – making Grapevine, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Grapevine, TX

🕒 Local time

15:29 3:29 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

50,631

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Grapevine, TX 1,300 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Grapevine, 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 Grapevine, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,230 in Grapevine, TX – Grapevine, TX comes out roughly 27% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,344 in Grapevine, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Grapevine, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,507 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $80 in Grapevine, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Grapevine, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,230, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Grapevine, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Grapevine, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.