Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Irving, TX: $2,405 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
116

Cost of Living Index in Irving, TX
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Irving, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Irving, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,405

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,405 in Irving, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Irving, TX $2,405

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,496 in Irving, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Irving, TX $3,496

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,588 in Irving, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Irving, TX $4,588

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Irving, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Irving, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Irving, TX by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$15.07 $15.07

37.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$75.1 $75.1

18.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$10.93 $10.93

20.68%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.73 $4.73

19.66%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.61 $2.61

1.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.59 $1.59

43.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.10 $6.10

12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.09 $6.09

45.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.82 $0.82

52.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.78 $2.78

33.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.90 $2.90

85.86%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.78 $2.78

70.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.01 $10.01

38.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.13 $10.13

42.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.59 $16.59

10.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.31 $4.31

21.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.48 $1.48

33.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.28 $3.28

23.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.73 $2.73

82.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.94 $1.94

37.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$1.65 $1.65

61.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.56 $1.56

43.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.96 $1.96

59.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.99 $9.99

38.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.54 $10.54

41.18%

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

$3.90 $3.90

-10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.92 $2.92

-16.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$126 $126

-41.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.24 $3.24

-1.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.56 $1.56

-10.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$29.99 $29.99

-16.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.88 $0.88

36.36%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.1K $27.1K

29.13%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.8K $24.8K

7.38%

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

$194 $194

$225 $225

-13.75%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$49.10 $49.10

41.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$67.3 $67.3

-8.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$24.39 $24.39

96.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$6.79 $6.79

162.30%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,816 $1,816

-1.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$20.5K $20.5K

55.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$22.86 $22.86

193.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$24.97 $24.97

108.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$65.4 $65.4

55.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$95.9 $95.9

49.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,509 $1,509

67.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,190 $1,190

32.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,811 $2,811

68.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,954 $1,954

37.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,744 $3,744

11.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,410 $2,410

14.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$4,133 $4,133

19.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.62

2.87%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Irving, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Irving, TX

$1.2K 49.5% 24.6% $388

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Irving, TX

$323 13.4% 27.9% $125

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Irving, TX

$270 11.2% 21.8% $75

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Irving, TX

$342 14.2% 5% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Irving, TX

$94 3.9% 42.6% $70

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Irving, TX

$149 6.2% 59.3% $55

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Irving, TX

$38 1.6% 54.5% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,509 in Irving, 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 19% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Irving, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $323 – making Irving, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Irving, TX

🕒 Local time

09:11 9:11 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

256,684

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

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

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,405 in Irving, TX – Irving, TX comes out roughly 21% 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 $3,607 in Irving, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Irving, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,509 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Irving, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,405 in Irving, TX. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,405 in Irving, TX to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Irving, TX. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.