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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.9% cheaper than Plano, TX without rent, and 11% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.7% more expensive than Plano, TX without rent, and 6.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.33 $18.33
13.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.4 $74.4
34.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.09 $10.09
18.63%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.82 $4.82
15.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.57 $2.57
21.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2 $2
21.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.83 $5.83
17.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.96 $6.96
21.41%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.92 $0.92
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.08 $3.08
34.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.06 $5.06
9.09%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.24 $4.24
9.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.27 $13.27
7.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.14 $14.14
5.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.61 $17.61
9.82%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.1 $6.1
-15.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.41 $1.41
21.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.18 $4.18
5.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.15 $4.15
8.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.59 $3.59
-29.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.01 $3.01
-8.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.32 $2.32
16.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.91 $9.91
53.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.07 $15.07
8.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.36 $3.36
10.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.99 $4.99
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$103 $103
-28.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.98 $2.98
12.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.7 $1.7
-16.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$23.58 $23.58
7.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.79 $0.79
36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.3K $35.3K
-8.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$28.2K $28.2K
-6.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$190 $190
-1.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.48 $45.48
40.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$64.5 $64.5
1.05%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$81.6 $81.6
-5.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$49.65 $49.65
-73.76%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.91 $12.91
15.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,156 $1,156
78.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.1K $18.1K
116.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54 $54
19.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$37.76 $37.76
38.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-6.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$131 $131
10.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,657 $1,657
43.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,344 $1,344
17.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,964 $2,964
60.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,753 $2,753
2.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,403 $2,403
49.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,387 $2,387
4.32%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Plano, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,669 $5,669
-6.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Plano, TX: October 29, 2025

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