Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Dallas, TX: $2,898 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

139

Cost of Living Index in Dallas, TX
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Dallas, TX Living Index
147

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

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Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,898

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dallas, TX and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dallas, TX and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,898 per month in Dallas, TX vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Dallas, TX $2,898
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,315 per month in Dallas, TX vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Dallas, TX $4,315
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,733 per month in Dallas, TX vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Dallas, TX $5,733
Chicago, IL $5,999

Dallas, TX is about 5% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Dallas, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Dallas, TX by 113%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.61 $20.61

$20.71 $20.71

-0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.3 $91.3

$89.2 $89.2

2.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$13.19 $13.19

-8.34%

Cappuccino

$6.31 $6.31

$5.66 $5.66

11.48%

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

$3.24 $3.24

$2.64 $2.64

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.28 $2.28

3.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 $7.80

$6.87 $6.87

13.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.79 $7.79

$8.84 $8.84

-11.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.25 $1.25

-18.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.72 $3.72

-13.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.39 $5.39

-10.39%

Eggs

$4.69 $4.69

$4.74 $4.74

-1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.97 $12.97

$13.84 $13.84

-6.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.32 $11.32

$14.40 $14.40

-21.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.41 $18.41

$18.38 $18.38

0.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.22 $5.22

14.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$4.06 $4.06

23.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.97 $4.97

-14.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.67 $2.67

-14.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.66 $2.66

19.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.24 $2.24

-9.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.13 $3.13

-6.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$13.82 $13.82

-26.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.24 $16.24

$14.88 $14.88

9.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.54 $2.54

39.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.51 $3.51

30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.43 $2.43

20.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$126 $126

$73.5 $73.5

71.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.18 $3.18

-4.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.39 $1.39

28.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.84 $23.84

$25.03 $25.03

-4.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 $1.20

-15.00%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

4.44%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$26.7K $26.7K

4.98%

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

$198 $198

$194 $194

1.84%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$69.5 $69.5

-15.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 $65.1

$61.6 $61.6

5.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 $57.3

$47.90 $47.90

19.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.77 $20.77

$27.34 $27.34

-24.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 $15.09

$17.81 $17.81

-15.27%

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

$2,028 $2,028

$1,794 $1,794

13.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

-24.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 $64.7

$67.0 $67.0

-3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.46 $49.46

$52.1 $52.1

-5.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$102 $102

20.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$144 $144

-4.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,817 $1,817

$2,526 $2,526

-28.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 $1,389

$1,578 $1,578

-11.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,084 $4,084

$4,738 $4,738

-13.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$2,693 $2,693

-13.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,624 $8,624

$4,190 $4,190

105.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,953 $2,953

$2,768 $2,768

6.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,493 $4,493

$4,931 $4,931

-8.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.86

6.81

0.73%

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

Last update for Dallas, TX: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Dallas, TX

$1.4K 48%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 13.6% $189

Groceries & Markets

Dallas, TX

$427 14.8%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 4.7% $20

Eating Out

Dallas, TX

$354 12.2%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 2.5% $8.9

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dallas, TX

$322 11.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 1.2% $3.7

Clothing & Footwear

Dallas, TX

$168 5.8%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 2.3% $3.8

Getting Around

Dallas, TX

$150 5.2%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 37.8% $57

Sport & Entertainment

Dallas, TX

$87 3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 4.5% $4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,817 in Dallas, TX versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. 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 10% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $91 in Dallas, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $427 in Dallas, TX vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Dallas, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

07:00 7:00 AM

Same time as Dallas, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,302,638

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Dallas, TX Chicago, IL 1,300 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Dallas, TX
Chicago, IL

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,898 in Dallas, TX, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Dallas, TX comes out roughly 5% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,347 per month in Dallas, TX and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dallas, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,817 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Public transport costs about 42% less in Chicago, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,898 in Dallas, TX and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dallas, TX costs $2,898 versus $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Dallas, 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.