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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,398 in Taylor, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,553 in Taylor, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,707 in Taylor, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 28% more than Taylor, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Taylor, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Taylor, TX by 79%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.79 $18.79

11.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$75.4 $75.4

30.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.13 $11.13

6.56%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.01 $5.01

11.78%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.56 $2.56

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.17 $6.17

15.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.98 $6.98

15.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.87 $0.87

20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.26 $2.26

81.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$3.12 $3.12

79.81%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.08 $4.08

10.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$7.73 $7.73

84.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.14 $11.14

33.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$10.99 $10.99

74.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.22 $3.22

59.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.63 $2.63

-32.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.07 $4.07

7.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$2.36 $2.36

93.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.43 $2.43

4.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.49 $4.49

-38.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.75 $2.75

-12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.17 $2.17

20.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.70 $9.70

53.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.25 $13.25

11.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.84 $1.84

33.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.46 $3.46

7.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.02 $2.02

22.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.46 $3.46

-8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.08 $29.08

-14.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.81 $0.81

30.86%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.5K $28.5K

12.18%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$33.1K $33.1K

-21.43%

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

$185 $185

-0.22%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$52.6 $52.6

17.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$55.1 $55.1

21.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.18 $42.18

78.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$9.96 $9.96

47.69%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,302 $1,302

55.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.0K $23.0K

71.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$50.1 $50.1

28.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$39.97 $39.97

31.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$122 $122

-19.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$112 $112

31.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,428 $1,428

61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,221 $1,221

30.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,134 $2,134

115.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,012 $2,012

38.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,668 $2,668

46.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,329 $2,329

12.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$2,427 $2,427

114.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Taylor, TX: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,428 in Taylor, 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 115% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Taylor, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $328 – making Taylor, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Taylor, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,398 in Taylor, TX – roughly 28% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,597 in Taylor, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taylor, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Taylor, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Taylor, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,398, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Taylor, TX it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,398 in Taylor, TX to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Taylor, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.