Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Temple, TX: $2,413 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
115

Cost of Living Index in Temple, TX
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Temple, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Temple, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,413

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Temple, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Temple, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,413 in Temple, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Temple, TX $2,413

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,282 in Temple, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Temple, TX $3,282

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,151 in Temple, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Temple, TX $4,151

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Temple, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Temple, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Temple, TX by 77%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$18.30 $18.30

13.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$49.93 $49.93

78.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.07 $9.07

45.42%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.86 $4.86

16.46%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.88 $2.88

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.65 $1.65

38.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.58 $3.58

91.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$3.94 $3.94

124.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.86 $0.86

45.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.19 $2.19

69.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.03 $4.03

33.75%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.89 $2.89

64.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$8.67 $8.67

59.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.03 $9.03

59.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$15.33 $15.33

19.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.16 $5.16

1.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.60 $1.60

23.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.31 $4.31

-5.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.49 $3.49

42.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.11 $2.11

26.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.49 $2.49

6.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.61 $1.61

39.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.90 $1.90

64.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$10.09 $10.09

36.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$8.81 $8.81

68.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.10 $2.10

20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.35 $2.35

49.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$49.65 $49.65

48.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.03 $3.03

4.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.71 $1.71

-18.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$24.10 $24.10

3.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.73 $0.73

64.38%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

38.50%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.0K $25.0K

6.80%

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

$194 $194

$208 $208

-6.73%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$43.62 $43.62

59.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$83.1 $83.1

-25.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$17.34 $17.34

176.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.12 $12.12

46.95%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,944 $1,944

-7.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.0K $28.0K

14.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$19.13 $19.13

250.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$50.3 $50.3

3.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$86.2 $86.2

17.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$85.2 $85.2

68.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,458 $1,458

73.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,264 $1,264

24.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,077 $2,077

128.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,757 $1,757

53.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$1,743 $1,743

140.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,717 $1,717

61.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,914 $3,914

25.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.62

2.87%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Temple, TX: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Temple, TX

$1.3K 52.4% 19.9% $314

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Temple, TX

$319 13.2% 28.7% $128

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Temple, TX

$276 11.4% 20% $69

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Temple, TX

$335 13.9% 2.9% $9.6

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Temple, TX

$108 4.5% 33.9% $56

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Temple, TX

$69 2.9% 26% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Temple, TX

$42 1.7% 50.2% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,458 in Temple, 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 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $50 in Temple, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $319 – making Temple, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Temple, TX

🕒 Local time

03:41 3:41 AM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

82,073

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Temple, TX 1,480 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Temple, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Temple, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,413 in Temple, TX – Temple, TX comes out roughly 21% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,620 in Temple, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Temple, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,458 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $50 in Temple, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Temple, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,413, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Temple, 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 $2,413 in Temple, TX to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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