Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pearland, TX: $2,404 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
114

Cost of Living Index in Pearland, TX
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Pearland, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Pearland, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,404

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,404 in Pearland, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Pearland, TX $2,404

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,416 in Pearland, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Pearland, TX $3,416

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,428 in Pearland, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Pearland, TX $4,428

Chicago, IL costs about 28% more than Pearland, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Pearland, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Pearland, TX by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.70 $20.70

-1.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$74.2 $74.2

19.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.15 $10.15

26.60%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.67 $5.67

1.94%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.54 $3.54

-22.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.48 $2.48

-8.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.07 $6.07

13.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$8.17 $8.17

13.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.89 $0.89

41.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.31 $3.31

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.55 $3.55

51.55%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.11 $3.11

46.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$13.03 $13.03

4.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$13.40 $13.40

5.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$16.05 $16.05

12.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.09 $4.09

26.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.44 $1.44

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.98 $2.98

30.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.99 $3.99

21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.21 $2.21

27.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.45 $2.45

8.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.87 $1.87

10.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.14 $2.14

41.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.87 $9.87

40.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.44 $14.44

4.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.56 $2.56

2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.93 $2.93

17.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.82 $2.82

12.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$23.79 $23.79

4.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.98 $0.98

30.61%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$34.4K $34.4K

3.94%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

0.58%

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

$192 $192

$198 $198

-3.15%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$60.3 $60.3

15.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$70.9 $70.9

-12.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.06 $14.06

26.81%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,436 $1,436

26.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$27.6K $27.6K

47.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$50.9 $50.9

30.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$45.73 $45.73

12.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$87.2 $87.2

18.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$94.2 $94.2

51.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,481 $1,481

70.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,199 $1,199

35.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,078 $2,078

132.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,780 $1,780

53.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$5,668 $5,668

-13.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.67

1.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Pearland, TX: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Pearland, TX

$1.2K 49.9% 26% $422

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Pearland, TX

$376 15.6% 14.4% $63

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Pearland, TX

$335 13.9% 2.7% $9.2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Pearland, TX

$329 13.7% 1.7% $5.6

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Pearland, TX

$125 5.2% 23.5% $39

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Pearland, TX

$11 * 0.5% 88.9% $86

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Pearland, TX

$28 * 1.2% 66.3% $55

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,481 in Pearland, 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 15% higher in Pearland, 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 $74 in Pearland, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $376 – making Pearland, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Pearland, TX

🕒 Local time

10:15 10:15 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

91,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Pearland, TX 1,530 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,404 in Pearland, TX – Pearland, TX comes out roughly 22% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,606 in Pearland, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pearland, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,481 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $74 in Pearland, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,404 in Pearland, TX. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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