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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Dallas, TX is 1.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Dallas, TX is 8.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.17 $20.17
$20.82 $20.82
-3.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 $80.8
$100 $100
-19.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.23 $12.23
$11.97 $11.97
2.17%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$5.56 $5.56
-3.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$3.11 $3.11
-14.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.42 $2.42
-10.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.31 $6.31
$6.86 $6.86
-8.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.98 $6.98
$8.45 $8.45
-17.40%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.04 $1.04
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.8 $3.8
$4.15 $4.15
-8.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$5.52 $5.52
-10.33%
Eggs
$4.11 $4.11
$4.65 $4.65
-11.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.36 $13.36
$14.33 $14.33
-6.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.22 $14.22
$14.88 $14.88
-4.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.26 $17.26
$19.34 $19.34
-10.75%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$5.17 $5.17
-7.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.71 $1.71
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.41 $4.41
-0.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.51 $4.51
-9.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.53 $2.53
-12.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.12 $3.12
$2.74 $2.74
13.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.43 $2.43
-23.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.7 $2.7
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.14 $10.14
$15.19 $15.19
-33.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$16.42 $16.42
-8.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.35 $2.35
-9.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 $5.12
$3.7 $3.7
38.38%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.53 $2.53
21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$92.2 $92.2
$74.1 $74.1
24.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.34 $3.34
-11.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.42 $1.42
19.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.65 $23.65
$25.42 $25.42
-6.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K $36.6K
$32.4K $32.4K
12.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
8.35%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$188 $188
14.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.4 $78.4
$63.7 $63.7
23.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73 $73
$65.2 $65.2
11.90%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.11 $41.11
$76.7 $76.7
-46.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.94 $17.94
$13.03 $13.03
37.68%
Cinema Ticket
$12.51 $12.51
$14.93 $14.93
-16.21%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,173 $1,173
$2,063 $2,063
-43.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.9K $26.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-31.45%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 $55.1
$64.3 $64.3
-14.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4 $51.4
$52.4 $52.4
-1.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 $106
$95.2 $95.2
11.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 $132
$145 $145
-8.98%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,649 $1,649
$2,378 $2,378
-30.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 $1,460
$1,584 $1,584
-7.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,449 $3,449
$4,763 $4,763
-27.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,629 $2,629
$2,815 $2,815
-6.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,876 $3,876
$3,588 $3,588
8.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,494 $2,494
$2,490 $2,490
0.17%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,799 $4,799
$5,275 $5,275
-9.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dallas, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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