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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.2% more expensive than Roma, TX without rent, and 16.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.5% more expensive than Roma, TX without rent, and 26.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.73 $18.73
11.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.6 $74.6
34.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.01 $11.01
8.72%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.23 $5.23
6.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.59 $2.59
20.08%
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
$6.17 $6.17
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.86 $6.86
23.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.01 $1.01
2.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.41 $3.41
21.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.43 $4.43
24.60%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.23 $4.23
9.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.22 $12.22
17.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.43 $11.43
30.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.16 $15.16
27.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.84 $4.84
6.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.64 $1.64
4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.2 $4.2
5.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.6 $4.6
-1.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.91 $2.91
-13.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.9 $2.9
-5.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.2 $2.2
22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.39 $9.39
61.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.95 $13.95
17.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.83 $1.83
28.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.4 $3.4
8.82%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.98 $1.98
27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$26.22 $26.22
182.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.44 $3.44
-2.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.64 $1.64
-13.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.37 $29.37
-13.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.1K $29.1K
11.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.38%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
1.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.1 $52.1
22.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.7 $67.7
-3.71%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.86 $43.86
74.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$20.25 $20.25
-35.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.67 $13.67
9.22%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,279 $1,279
61.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
63.94%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51 $51
26.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.94 $39.94
31.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87 $87
9.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$110 $110
31.12%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,593 $1,593
49.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,348 $1,348
17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,619 $2,619
81.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,252 $2,252
24.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,781 $2,781
29.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,490 $2,490
-0.01%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Roma, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$1,302 $1,302
305.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Roma, TX: October 29, 2025

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