Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Laredo, TX: $1,964 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
95

Cost of Living Index in Laredo, TX
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Laredo, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Laredo, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$1,964

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,964 in Laredo, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Laredo, TX $1,964

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,981 in Laredo, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Laredo, TX $2,981

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,999 in Laredo, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Laredo, TX $3,999

Chicago, IL costs about 60% more than Laredo, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Laredo, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Laredo, TX by 45%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$18.33 $18.33

12.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$69.0 $69.0

30.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$7.81 $7.81

65.69%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.96 $4.96

12.90%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.30 $2.30

14.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.68 $1.68

35.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.90 $3.90

78.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$5.88 $5.88

50.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.00 $1.00

27.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.99 $1.99

90.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$2.93 $2.93

80.89%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.82 $3.82

24.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$8.65 $8.65

61.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.90 $9.90

47.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$13.45 $13.45

39.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.89 $4.89

6.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.62 $1.62

22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.25 $4.25

-7.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.22 $3.22

54.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.61 $2.61

5.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.22 $2.22

24.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.92 $1.92

15.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.73 $1.73

72.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.40 $9.40

49.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$12.85 $12.85

18.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.78 $1.78

44.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.38 $3.38

3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.98 $0.98

152.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$20.02 $20.02

273.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.41 $3.41

-2.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.85 $1.85

-22.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$24.17 $24.17

0.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.82 $0.82

53.66%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$25.1K $25.1K

39.67%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.20%

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

$193 $193

$215 $215

-10.21%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$63.8 $63.8

7.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$64.4 $64.4

-4.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$39.94 $39.94

35.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$19.88 $19.88

40.44%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$14.73 $14.73

20.43%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$351 $351

370.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$19.1K $19.1K

62.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$44.79 $44.79

47.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$20.03 $20.03

155.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$69.8 $69.8

43.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$121 $121

16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,189 $1,189

105.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$801 $801

109.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,291 $1,291

265.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,450 $1,450

92.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$1,704 $1,704

140.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,698 $1,698

56.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,125 $3,125

55.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.44

5.75%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Laredo, TX: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Laredo, TX

$801 40.8% 52.3% $877

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Laredo, TX

$322 16.4% 28.3% $127

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Laredo, TX

$277 14.1% 19.4% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Laredo, TX

$343 17.5% 6.4% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Laredo, TX

$115 5.9% 28.8% $46

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Laredo, TX

$37 1.9% 61.5% $59

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Laredo, TX

$69 3.5% 22.6% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,189 in Laredo, 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 56% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $69.0 in Laredo, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $322 – making Laredo, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Laredo, TX

🕒 Local time

03:03 3:03 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

255,205

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Laredo, TX 1,930 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $1,964 in Laredo, TX – roughly 60% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,946 in Laredo, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in Laredo, 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 Laredo, TX, where all-in costs run around $1,964, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Laredo, 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 $1,964 in Laredo, TX to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Laredo, 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.