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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.3% more expensive than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 13.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 41.5% more expensive than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 19.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.53 $20.53

$18.81 $18.81

9.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$68.1 $68.1

49.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$10.02 $10.02

20.06%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$4.91 $4.91

14.46%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.74 $2.74

12.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.17 $2.17

11.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.02 $6.02

15.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$7.06 $7.06

14.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.90 $0.90

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.03 $3.03

30.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.46 $3.46

59.54%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.92 $3.92

16.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 $14.58

$9.62 $9.62

51.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$12.15 $12.15

22.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.83 $18.83

$17.60 $17.60

6.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.20 $4.20

27.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.18 $1.18

49.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.97 $3.97

10.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.52 $2.52

73.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.81 $2.81

-9.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.38 $2.38

16.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.26 $2.26

17.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.74 $14.74

$7.87 $7.87

87.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$12.36 $12.36

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.95 $1.95

25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.75 $3.75

-1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.90 $3.90

-15.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.89 $1.89

-24.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.86 $24.86

$30.41 $30.41

-18.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.72 $0.72

51.39%

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

$31.3K $31.3K

$32.6K $32.6K

-4.02%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.0K $25.0K

7.30%

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

$187 $187

$193 $193

-3.25%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$62.0 $62.0

0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 $67.1

$64.5 $64.5

4.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$70.4 $70.4

6.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.17 $13.17

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$15.05 $15.05

1.06%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$668 $668

205.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.3K $39.3K

$18.8K $18.8K

109.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$47.03 $47.03

36.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$43.69 $43.69

15.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$100 $100

-4.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$122 $122

18.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 $2,355

$1,320 $1,320

78.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$1,379 $1,379

16.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$3,008 $3,008

57.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,754 $2,754

$2,372 $2,372

16.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,803 $3,803

$2,406 $2,406

58.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,580 $2,580

$1,895 $1,895

36.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,151 $3,151

50.34%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for San Marcos, TX: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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