Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wichita Falls, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wichita Falls, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,892 in Wichita Falls, TX, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,988 in Wichita Falls, TX, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,084 in Wichita Falls, TX, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 61% more than Wichita Falls, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Wichita Falls, TX sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Wichita Falls, TX by 41%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$18.20 $18.20

13.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$55.8 $55.8

79.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.99 $7.99

48.44%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.91 $4.91

12.83%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.23 $2.23

37.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.98 $1.98

25.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.12 $5.12

35.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$5.88 $5.88

38.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.95 $0.95

9.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.89 $2.89

35.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$7.51 $7.51

-27.83%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$7.63 $7.63

-41.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$20.30 $20.30

-28.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$14.34 $14.34

6.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$18.68 $18.68

3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.21 $6.21

-13.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.40 $1.40

20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.10 $4.10

5.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.06 $5.06

-10.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.61 $3.61

-29.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.96 $3.96

-31.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.21 $2.21

9.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.97 $3.97

-34.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$10.39 $10.39

44.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$8.99 $8.99

63.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.76 $1.76

40.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.97 $2.97

24.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.53 $1.53

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$45.42 $45.42

66.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.22 $1.22

169.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.88 $0.88

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$28.88 $28.88

-14.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$28.1K $28.1K

13.00%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.36%

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

$183 $183

$190 $190

-3.49%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$30.46 $30.46

102.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$49.53 $49.53

31.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$10.19 $10.19

646.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$19.83 $19.83

-34.24%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.71 $14.71

0.27%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,323 $1,323

55.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

61.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$53.3 $53.3

20.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$34.44 $34.44

49.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$101 $101

-3.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$110 $110

34.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$783 $783

199.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$647 $647

144.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$1,597 $1,597

194.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,320 $1,320

105.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$1,472 $1,472

170.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,385 $1,385

90.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,920 $3,920

20.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.08

8.55%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Wichita Falls, TX: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $783 in Wichita Falls, 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 21% 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $56 in Wichita Falls, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $477 in Wichita Falls, TX – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Wichita Falls, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $1,892 in Wichita Falls, TX – roughly 61% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,838 in Wichita Falls, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $56.0 in Wichita Falls, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Wichita Falls, TX, where all-in costs run around $1,892, than in Chicago, IL at $3,051. In Wichita Falls, 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 $1,892 in Wichita Falls, TX to $3,051 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Wichita Falls, 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.