Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Braunfels, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Braunfels, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.3% more expensive than New Braunfels, TX without rent, and 13.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.3% more expensive than New Braunfels, TX without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$19.20 $19.20
4.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$66.6 $66.6
52.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.09 $10.09
19.13%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.88 $4.88
15.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.73 $2.73
10.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.18 $2.18
7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.44 $5.44
28.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.09 $6.09
38.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.94 $0.94
15.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.96 $2.96
39.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$2.06 $2.06
170.39%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.21 $3.21
40.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$12.74 $12.74
13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$9.87 $9.87
52.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$12.13 $12.13
56.47%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.20 $4.20
23.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.05 $1.05
69.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.87 $3.87
12.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.63 $2.63
72.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.89 $1.89
34.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.30 $2.30
17.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.73 $1.73
43.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.65 $1.65
59.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$6.33 $6.33
138.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$12.56 $12.56
18.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.98 $1.98
24.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$1.96 $1.96
86.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.98 $1.98
29.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$154 $154
-51.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$3.80 $3.80
-13.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.82 $1.82
-24.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$29.82 $29.82
-16.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.72 $0.72
47.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$33.1K $33.1K
-5.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
2.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$200 $200
-6.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$62.9 $62.9
0.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$65.4 $65.4
0.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$32.99 $32.99
128.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$12.30 $12.30
23.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$1,055 $1,055
95.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$19.3K $19.3K
101.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$47.07 $47.07
35.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$24.90 $24.90
104.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$92.0 $92.0
5.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$123 $123
16.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,396 $1,396
67.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,432 $1,432
12.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,483 $2,483
91.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,415 $2,415
14.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,397 $2,397
57.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,071 $2,071
26.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Braunfels, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$4,326 $4,326
15.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.44
2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for New Braunfels, TX: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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