Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and The Woodlands, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and The Woodlands, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 46.1% more expensive than The Woodlands, TX without rent, and 1.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 35.8% more expensive than The Woodlands, TX without rent, and 22.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.03 $20.03

3.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.5 $75.5

32.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.12 $10.12

18.28%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.4 $4.4

26.36%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.57 $2.57

21.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.21 $2.21

9.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.45 $5.45

25.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.32 $6.32

33.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.1 $1.1

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.43 $3.43

20.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.47 $3.47

59.08%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.32 $4.32

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.04 $12.04

19.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.8 $10.8

37.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.79 $14.79

30.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.03 $5.03

2.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.21 $1.21

41.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.49 $4.49

-1.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.9 $3.9

15.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.28 $2.28

10.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.77 $2.77

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.43 $1.43

69.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.31 $1.31

106.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.77 $8.77

73.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.03 $15.03

9.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.38 $2.38

-1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.53 $1.53

141.83%

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

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.46 $4.46

-25.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.76 $1.76

-19.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$35.02 $35.02

-27.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.75 $0.75

44.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$22.8K $22.8K

42.21%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$20.6K $20.6K

27.23%

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

$188 $188

$171 $171

9.76%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$58.5 $58.5

8.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$51 $51

27.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$34.9 $34.9

119.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.92 $14.92

0.07%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,379 $1,379

49.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$21.9K $21.9K

79.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$56.1 $56.1

14.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.69 $45.69

14.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86 $86

10.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$116 $116

25.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,883 $1,883

26.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,955 $1,955

-18.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,956 $2,956

61.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,489 $2,489

13.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,920 $1,920

86.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,899 $1,899

31.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$7,219 $7,219

-26.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.45

2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for The Woodlands, TX: October 28, 2025

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