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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.6% more expensive than Waco, TX without rent, and 9.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.5% more expensive than Waco, TX without rent, and 27.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.54 $19.54

6.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$61.9 $61.9

62.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.82 $9.82

21.89%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.59 $5.59

-0.54%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.22 $2.22

40.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.46 $1.46

65.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.97 $5.97

14.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.11 $5.11

65.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.95 $0.95

9.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.77 $2.77

49.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.62 $2.62

110.69%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.33 $4.33

7.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.79 $11.79

21.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.59 $10.59

40.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.92 $11.92

62.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.03 $4.03

28.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.14 $1.14

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.07 $4.07

8.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.94 $3.94

14.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.87 $2.87

-11.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.88 $2.88

-4.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.57 $1.57

54.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.81 $1.81

49.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.88 $7.88

92.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.79 $14.79

11.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.74 $1.74

35.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.42 $3.42

8.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.52 $1.52

66.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$39.76 $39.76

86.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.44 $4.44

-24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.84 $1.84

-22.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$34.62 $34.62

-26.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.79 $0.79

36.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.2K $25.2K

28.60%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.20%

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

$188 $188

$174 $174

8.33%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$60.2 $60.2

5.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.7 $66.7

-2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$27.16 $27.16

182.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$9.53 $9.53

56.66%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$860 $860

139.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$21.8K $21.8K

80.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$52.2 $52.2

23.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.13 $45.13

16.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$77.6 $77.6

22.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

21.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,181 $1,181

101.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,558 $1,558

1.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,360 $2,360

101.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,194 $2,194

28.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,976 $1,976

81.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,954 $1,954

27.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,567 $3,567

47.89%

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 Waco, TX: October 28, 2025

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