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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.1% more expensive than Leander, TX without rent, and 13.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.7% more expensive than Leander, TX without rent, and 9.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.02 $18.02
15.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$60.8 $60.8
64.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.44 $10.44
14.66%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.18 $6.18
-10.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.98 $1.98
57.07%
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
$4.96 $4.96
38.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.11 $4.11
105.60%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.9 $0.9
15.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.19 $3.19
30.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.07 $4.07
35.63%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.48 $3.48
33.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.69 $9.69
47.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.44 $15.44
-3.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.15 $19.15
0.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.91 $5.91
-12.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.65 $2.65
-35.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.03 $4.03
9.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.95 $3.95
14.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.26 $2.26
11.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.77 $2.77
-1.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.15 $2.15
13.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.14 $2.14
26.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.89 $8.89
70.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.67 $17.67
-7.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.82 $1.82
29.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.48 $4.48
-17.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.06 $2.06
22.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.97 $2.97
12.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.72 $1.72
-17.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.23 $24.23
4.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.74 $0.74
45.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$24.4K $24.4K
32.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.6K $26.6K
-1.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$232 $232
-18.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$61 $61
4.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$78.8 $78.8
-17.25%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.77 $43.77
75.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.7 $13.7
8.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,862 $1,862
10.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.2K $23.2K
68.66%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$59.4 $59.4
8.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.05 $30.05
74.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$84.4 $84.4
12.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$126 $126
14.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,731 $1,731
37.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,347 $1,347
17.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,533 $2,533
88.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$4,066 $4,066
-30.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,603 $2,603
37.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,503 $2,503
-0.53%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Leander, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,399 $7,399
-28.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.59
0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Leander, TX: October 27, 2025

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