Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Victoria, TX: $2,332 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
113

Cost of Living Index in Victoria, TX
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Victoria, TX Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Victoria, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,332

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Victoria, 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 Victoria, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,332 in Victoria, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Victoria, TX $2,332

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,495 in Victoria, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Victoria, TX $3,495

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,657 in Victoria, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Victoria, TX $4,657

Chicago, IL costs about 32% more than Victoria, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Victoria, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Victoria, TX by 73%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.93 $19.93

2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$75.6 $75.6

17.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.32 $11.32

13.52%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$6.95 $6.95

-16.83%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.71 $2.71

1.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.76 $1.76

28.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.04 $5.04

36.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$5.88 $5.88

57.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.95 $0.95

32.63%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.71 $2.71

31.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.41 $4.41

22.00%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.83 $3.83

18.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$11.90 $11.90

14.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$12.22 $12.22

15.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$15.26 $15.26

18.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.87 $4.87

5.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.01 $1.01

96.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.33 $4.33

-10.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.53 $4.53

6.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.96 $2.96

-5.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.72 $2.72

-1.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.46 $1.46

41.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.53 $3.53

-14.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.00 $10.00

39.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.15 $13.15

14.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.01 $2.01

30.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$5.57 $5.57

-38.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$60.1 $60.1

25.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.50 $3.50

-9.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.55 $1.55

9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$30.11 $30.11

-17.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.84 $0.84

52.38%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$34.3K $34.3K

4.24%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$37.7K $37.7K

-28.82%

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

$192 $192

$221 $221

-12.93%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$57.7 $57.7

20.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$90.1 $90.1

-30.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$53.2 $53.2

-10.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$25.24 $25.24

7.37%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$13.89 $13.89

28.37%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$861 $861

110.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$20.3K $20.3K

99.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$57.6 $57.6

14.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$75.9 $75.9

-32.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$136 $136

-24.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$173 $173

-17.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$945 $945

167.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$881 $881

84.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$1,496 $1,496

222.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,497 $1,497

82.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$1,693 $1,693

145.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$1,651 $1,651

64.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,762 $3,762

30.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.05

12.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Victoria, TX: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Victoria, TX

$881 37.8% 45.7% $740

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Victoria, TX

$393 16.8% 10.6% $47

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Victoria, TX

$332 14.2% 3.6% $12

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Victoria, TX

$368 15.8% 13.7% $44

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Victoria, TX

$199 8.5% 21.6% $35

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Victoria, TX

$79 3.4% 18% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Victoria, TX

$81 3.5% 3% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $945 in Victoria, 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 31% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $76 in Victoria, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $393 – making Victoria, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Victoria, TX

🕒 Local time

18:02 6:02 PM

Same time as Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

65,534

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.894 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Victoria, TX 1,680 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Victoria, 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 Victoria, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,332 in Victoria, TX – Victoria, TX comes out roughly 24% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,499 in Victoria, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Victoria, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $945 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $76 in Victoria, TX. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Victoria, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Victoria, 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.