Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in McKinney, TX: $2,798 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 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
133

Cost of Living Index in McKinney, TX
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McKinney, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

McKinney, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,798

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,798 in McKinney, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
McKinney, TX $2,798

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,731 in McKinney, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
McKinney, TX $3,731

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,663 in McKinney, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
McKinney, TX $4,663

Chicago, IL costs about 9% more than McKinney, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and McKinney, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, McKinney, TX by 106%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$18.76 $18.76

10.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$60.8 $60.8

46.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$11.03 $11.03

19.58%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.96 $4.96

14.11%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.57 $2.57

2.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.86 $1.86

22.58%

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

$7.54 $7.54

17.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.02 $1.02

22.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.78 $2.78

33.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.20 $2.20

145.00%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.03 $4.03

17.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.09 $10.09

37.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$15.69 $15.69

-8.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.90 $16.90

8.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.18 $3.18

64.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.90 $2.90

-31.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.96 $2.96

37.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.56 $2.56

94.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.18 $2.18

22.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.09 $2.09

27.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.79 $1.79

25.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.92 $2.92

7.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.02 $10.02

37.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.45 $11.45

29.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.75 $1.75

45.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.72 $3.72

-5.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.04 $3.04

-20.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$190 $190

-61.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.03 $3.03

4.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$15.07 $15.07

66.09%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

30.32%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.7K $24.7K

8.17%

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

$194 $194

$205 $205

-4.96%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.2 $58.2

19.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$68.2 $68.2

-9.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$29.56 $29.56

62.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$12.81 $12.81

113.43%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$11.96 $11.96

48.91%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,174 $1,174

52.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$56.3 $56.3

19.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$28.56 $28.56

82.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$86.1 $86.1

17.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$59.3 $59.3

142.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,675 $1,675

50.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,426 $1,426

10.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,638 $2,638

79.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,727 $1,727

55.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,318 $2,318

80.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,284 $2,284

21.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,808 $5,808

-15.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.51

4.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for McKinney, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

McKinney, TX

$1.4K 51% 9.6% $152

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

McKinney, TX

$372 13.3% 16.8% $75

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

McKinney, TX

$306 10.9% 11.3% $39

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

McKinney, TX

$331 11.8% 1.7% $5.5

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

McKinney, TX

$104 3.7% 36.8% $60

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

McKinney, TX

$206 * 7.4% 120% $112

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

McKinney, TX

$53 1.9% 36% $30

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,675 in McKinney, 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 18% higher in McKinney, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $61 in McKinney, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $372 – making McKinney, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 McKinney, TX

🕒 Local time

02:02 2:02 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

202,690

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL McKinney, TX 1,250 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,798 in McKinney, TX – McKinney, TX comes out roughly 8% 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 $4,197 in McKinney, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in McKinney, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,675 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $61 in McKinney, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward McKinney, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.