Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Houston, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Houston, MO

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.9% more expensive than Houston, MO without rent, and 19.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.6% more expensive than Houston, MO without rent, and 26.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$11.85 $11.85

75.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$85.7 $85.7

17.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.81 $10.81

10.73%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.55 $5.55

0.18%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.73 $2.73

13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.15 $2.15

12.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.92 $5.92

15.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.62 $6.62

27.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.08 $1.08

-3.70%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.16 $3.16

31.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.43 $6.43

-14.15%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.67 $4.67

-0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$18.28 $18.28

-21.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.12 $16.12

-7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$16.46 $16.46

17.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.56 $4.56

13.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.28 $1.28

33.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.64 $3.64

21.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.78 $2.78

62.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.39 $2.39

5.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.66 $2.66

3.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.83 $1.83

32.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.08 $10.08

50.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.16 $12.16

35.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.86 $1.86

26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.08 $3.08

20.13%

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

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.48 $3.48

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.65 $29.65

-14.27%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

6.58%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$33.3K $33.3K

-21.21%

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

$188 $188

$196 $196

-4.13%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$47.61 $47.61

33.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$50.1 $50.1

30.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.59 $43.59

76.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.3 $15.3

-2.42%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,277 $1,277

61.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

69.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.9 $46.9

37.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.58 $39.58

32.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$67.8 $67.8

40.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$68.9 $68.9

109.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,588 $1,588

49.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,333 $1,333

18.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,632 $2,632

80.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,238 $2,238

25.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,181 $3,181

12.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,529 $2,529

-1.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Houston, MO: October 29, 2025

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