Cost of Living Comparison Between College Station, TX and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between College Station, TX and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: College Station, TX is 13.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: College Station, TX is 22.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.19 $13.19
$20.82 $20.82
-36.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4 $65.4
$100 $100
-34.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 $8.28
$11.97 $11.97
-30.83%
Cappuccino
$4.83 $4.83
$5.56 $5.56
-13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.11 $3.11
-7.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.6 $1.6
$2.42 $2.42
-33.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.43 $4.43
$6.86 $6.86
-35.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 $5.88
$8.45 $8.45
-30.41%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.04 $1.04
-13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$2.93 $2.93
$4.15 $4.15
-29.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.1 $4.1
$5.52 $5.52
-25.72%
Eggs
$2.6 $2.6
$4.65 $4.65
-44.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 $10.74
$14.33 $14.33
-25.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.6 $8.6
$14.88 $14.88
-42.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.62 $13.62
$19.34 $19.34
-29.58%
Apples (1kg)
$6.43 $6.43
$5.17 $5.17
24.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.94 $5.94
$4.41 $4.41
34.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.51 $4.51
-9.98%
Potato (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.53 $2.53
51.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.74 $2.74
12.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.7 $2.7
-28.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78 $7.78
$15.19 $15.19
-48.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.16 $19.16
$16.42 $16.42
16.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.3 $3.3
$3.7 $3.7
-10.81%
🚌 Getting Around
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.53 $2.53
-61.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.62 $19.62
$74.1 $74.1
-73.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.42 $7.42
$3.34 $3.34
122.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.8 $3.8
$1.42 $1.42
167.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.65 $28.65
$25.42 $25.42
12.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K $34.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
7.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 $192
$188 $188
1.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.37 $44.37
$63.7 $63.7
-30.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.1 $63.1
$65.2 $65.2
-3.24%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.32 $36.32
$76.7 $76.7
-52.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 $17.06
$13.03 $13.03
30.93%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19 $11.19
$14.93 $14.93
-25.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,163 $1,163
$2,063 $2,063
-43.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.2K $18.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.59%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.59 $39.59
$64.3 $64.3
-38.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.3 $38.3
$52.4 $52.4
-26.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87 $87
$95.2 $95.2
-8.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 $152
$145 $145
4.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 $1,268
$2,378 $2,378
-46.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$950 $950
$1,584 $1,584
-40.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 $1,966
$4,763 $4,763
-58.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,880 $1,880
$2,815 $2,815
-33.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,123 $2,123
$3,588 $3,588
-40.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,126 $2,126
$2,490 $2,490
-14.63%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
College Station, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,043 $4,043
$5,275 $5,275
-23.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
6.6
1.67%

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

Last update for College Station, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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