Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and San Antonio, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and San Antonio, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than San Antonio, TX without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23.6% more expensive than San Antonio, TX without rent, and 29.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.17 $19.17

8.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69.9 $69.9

43.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.88 $11.88

0.76%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.16 $5.16

7.75%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.37 $2.37

31.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.99 $1.99

21.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.1 $6.1

12.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.94 $6.94

21.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.97 $0.97

7.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.07 $3.07

35.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.64 $4.64

18.97%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.72 $3.72

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.7 $10.7

33.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.94 $9.94

49.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.19 $15.19

27.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.1 $4.1

26.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.52 $1.52

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.94 $3.94

11.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.25 $3.25

38.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.63 $2.63

4.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.78 $1.78

36.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.92 $1.92

40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.9 $8.9

70.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.71 $13.71

19.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.46 $2.46

-4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.21 $3.21

15.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.12 $2.12

19.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$38.77 $38.77

91.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.51 $3.51

-4.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.84 $1.84

-22.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$45.56 $45.56

-44.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.73 $0.73

47.95%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.5K $29.5K

9.76%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.42%

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

$188 $188

$197 $197

-4.41%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.2 $59.2

7.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$76 $76

-14.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43 $43

78.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$4.94 $4.94

163.77%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.1 $14.1

5.89%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,119 $1,119

84.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16.3K $16.3K

139.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.34 $45.34

41.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.88 $40.88

28.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$88.6 $88.6

7.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$142 $142

1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,490 $1,490

59.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,166 $1,166

35.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,670 $2,670

78.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,979 $1,979

42.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,740 $3,740

-4.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,950 $1,950

27.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,096 $4,096

28.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.29

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Antonio, TX: October 28, 2025

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