Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Worth, TX and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Fort Worth, TX: $2,668 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

128

Cost of Living Index in Fort Worth, TX
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Fort Worth, TX Living Index
147

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

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Fort Worth, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,668

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,668 per month in Fort Worth, TX vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fort Worth, TX $2,668
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,930 per month in Fort Worth, TX vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fort Worth, TX $3,930
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,191 per month in Fort Worth, TX vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Fort Worth, TX $5,191
Chicago, IL $5,999

Fort Worth, TX is about 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Fort Worth, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Fort Worth, TX by 96%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.82 $17.82

$20.71 $20.71

-13.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 $52.2

$89.2 $89.2

-41.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.83 $11.83

$13.19 $13.19

-10.31%

Cappuccino

$6.25 $6.25

$5.66 $5.66

10.42%

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

$2.90 $2.90

$2.64 $2.64

9.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.28 $2.28

6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.55 $5.55

$6.87 $6.87

-19.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$8.84 $8.84

-11.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.25 $1.25

-30.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.72 $3.72

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.39 $5.39

-5.19%

Eggs

$3.68 $3.68

$4.74 $4.74

-22.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$13.84 $13.84

-22.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.29 $15.29

$14.40 $14.40

6.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.57 $20.57

$18.38 $18.38

11.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.33 $6.33

$5.22 $5.22

21.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.98 $1.98

43.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.06 $4.06

28.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.97 $4.97

-7.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.67 $2.67

-0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.66 $2.66

29.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.24 $2.24

1.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.13 $3.13

-20.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.13 $10.13

$13.82 $13.82

-26.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.30 $21.30

$14.88 $14.88

43.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.54 $2.54

-16.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.51 $3.51

-3.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.43 $2.43

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.8 $76.8

$73.5 $73.5

4.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.18 $3.18

-8.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.39 $1.39

21.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.22 $24.22

$25.03 $25.03

-3.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.20 $1.20

-16.67%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$35.0K $35.0K

4.99%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.57%

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

$207 $207

$194 $194

6.30%

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

$92.8 $92.8

$69.5 $69.5

33.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$61.6 $61.6

38.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.1 $51.1

$47.90 $47.90

6.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.17 $20.17

$27.34 $27.34

-26.23%

Cinema Ticket

$14.84 $14.84

$17.81 $17.81

-16.68%

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

$1,937 $1,937

$1,794 $1,794

8.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-13.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 $59.8

$67.0 $67.0

-10.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 $50.7

$52.1 $52.1

-2.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 $123

$102 $102

21.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 $135

$144 $144

-6.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,694 $1,694

$2,526 $2,526

-32.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,165 $1,165

$1,578 $1,578

-26.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,785 $2,785

$4,738 $4,738

-41.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 $2,023

$2,693 $2,693

-24.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,904 $3,904

$4,190 $4,190

-6.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,872 $1,872

$2,768 $2,768

-32.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,416 $4,416

$4,931 $4,931

-10.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.81

-2.79%

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

Last update for Fort Worth, TX: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Fort Worth, TX

$1.2K 43.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 35.4% $413

Groceries & Markets

Fort Worth, TX

$458 17.2%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 2.4% $11

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Fort Worth, TX

$385 14.4%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 15.4% $59

Eating Out

Fort Worth, TX

$318 11.9%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 8.5% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Fort Worth, TX

$166 6.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 1% $1.7

Getting Around

Fort Worth, TX

$96 3.6%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 2.6% $2.5

Sport & Entertainment

Fort Worth, TX

$81 3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 3.4% $2.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,694 in Fort Worth, 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 12% 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 $52 in Fort Worth, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $458 in Fort Worth, TX vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Fort Worth, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

20:02 8:02 PM

Same time as Fort Worth, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

996,756

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

Fort Worth, TX Chicago, IL 1,330 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Fort Worth, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,668 in Fort Worth, TX, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Fort Worth, TX comes out roughly 12% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,002 per month in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,694 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Fort Worth, TX and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Chicago, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Fort Worth, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,668, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Fort Worth, 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 $2,668 in Fort Worth, TX to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Fort Worth, 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.