Cost of Living Comparison Between El Paso, TX and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between El Paso, TX and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: El Paso, TX is 17.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: El Paso, TX is 19.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.23 $19.23
$20.82 $20.82
-7.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 $70.1
$100 $100
-30.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$11.97 $11.97
-0.58%
Cappuccino
$6.23 $6.23
$5.56 $5.56
12.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.11 $3.11
-11.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.42 $2.42
-22.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.94 $4.94
$6.86 $6.86
-27.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 $6.17
$8.45 $8.45
-26.98%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.04 $1.04
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 $2.42
$4.15 $4.15
-41.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.5 $2.5
$5.52 $5.52
-54.71%
Eggs
$3.68 $3.68
$4.65 $4.65
-20.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$14.33 $14.33
-21.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.42 $11.42
$14.88 $14.88
-23.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 $12.19
$19.34 $19.34
-36.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$5.17 $5.17
-23.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.71 $1.71
-22.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.41 $4.41
-5.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.4 $4.4
$4.51 $4.51
-2.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.53 $2.53
41.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.74 $2.74
8.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.43 $2.43
-8.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.7 $2.7
-42.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.11 $12.11
$15.19 $15.19
-20.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.77 $9.77
$16.42 $16.42
-40.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.35 $2.35
-13.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.7 $3.7
22.43%
🚌 Getting Around
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.53 $2.53
-41.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.68 $47.68
$74.1 $74.1
-35.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 $1.67
$3.34 $3.34
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.58 $26.58
$25.42 $25.42
4.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.08 $1.08
-28.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 $165
$188 $188
-12.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.2 $63.2
$63.7 $63.7
-0.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$65.2 $65.2
7.81%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.56 $25.56
$76.7 $76.7
-66.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.91 $7.91
$13.03 $13.03
-39.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.6 $11.6
$14.93 $14.93
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 $575
$2,063 $2,063
-72.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,067 $7,067
$39.2K $39.2K
-81.96%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.03 $40.03
$64.3 $64.3
-37.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 $43.14
$52.4 $52.4
-17.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 $96.5
$95.2 $95.2
1.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$173 $173
$145 $145
19.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,072 $1,072
$2,378 $2,378
-54.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$889 $889
$1,584 $1,584
-43.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,697 $1,697
$4,763 $4,763
-64.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$2,815 $2,815
-43.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,797 $1,797
$3,588 $3,588
-49.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,771 $1,771
$2,490 $2,490
-28.88%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
El Paso, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,356 $3,356
$5,275 $5,275
-36.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for El Paso, TX: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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