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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 29% more expensive than McAllen, TX without rent, and 71.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.2% more expensive than McAllen, TX without rent, and 80.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$14.67 $14.67

41.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69 $69

45.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$8.2 $8.2

45.98%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.31 $4.31

29.00%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.62 $2.62

18.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.96 $1.96

23.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.12 $5.12

33.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.96 $5.96

41.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.88 $0.88

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.14 $3.14

32.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.15 $3.15

75.24%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.2 $3.2

45.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.78 $9.78

46.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.78 $9.78

52.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.59 $15.59

24.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.57 $4.57

13.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.45 $1.45

17.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.48 $3.48

26.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.4 $2.4

87.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.68 $2.68

-5.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.88 $2.88

-4.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.66 $1.66

46.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.09 $2.09

29.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.58 $8.58

77.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.2 $12.2

34.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.05 $2.05

14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.46 $2.46

50.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.97 $0.97

160.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.1 $4.1

-18.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.77 $0.77

84.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.41 $29.41

-13.57%

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

$29K $29K

11.70%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$22.1K $22.1K

18.39%

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

$188 $188

$176 $176

7.14%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$39.01 $39.01

63.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.9 $73.9

-11.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$44.72 $44.72

71.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.06 $12.06

23.80%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$892 $892

131.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$68.8 $68.8

-6.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$43.94 $43.94

19.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74.9 $74.9

27.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$95.3 $95.3

51.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$819 $819

190.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$697 $697

127.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,380 $1,380

245.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,137 $1,137

147.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,699 $1,699

111.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,681 $1,681

48.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,757 $3,757

40.41%

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 McAllen, TX: October 27, 2025

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