Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Frisco, TX: $2,815 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

136

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

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

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Frisco, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,815

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,815 per month in Frisco, TX vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Frisco, TX $2,815
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,225 per month in Frisco, TX vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Frisco, TX $4,225
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,634 per month in Frisco, TX vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Frisco, TX $5,634
Chicago, IL $5,999

Frisco, TX is about 7% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Frisco, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Frisco, TX by 107%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.75 $14.75

$20.71 $20.71

-28.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$89.2 $89.2

-11.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 $11.03

$13.19 $13.19

-16.38%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$5.66 $5.66

-6.71%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$2.64 $2.64

-3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.28 $2.28

4.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.78 $6.78

$6.87 $6.87

-1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.11 $9.11

$8.84 $8.84

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.25 $1.25

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.72 $3.72

-5.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$5.39 $5.39

-32.10%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$4.74 $4.74

-13.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$13.84 $13.84

-6.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.96 $10.96

$14.40 $14.40

-23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.20 $19.20

$18.38 $18.38

4.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.22 $5.22

-8.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.98 $1.98

-31.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.06 $4.06

-22.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.97 $4.97

-19.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.67 $2.67

24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.66 $2.66

7.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.24 $2.24

-8.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.13 $3.13

-19.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 $10.01

$13.82 $13.82

-27.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.26 $14.26

$14.88 $14.88

-4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.54 $2.54

-30.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.51 $3.51

-7.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.43 $2.43

26.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$73.5 $73.5

79.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.18 $3.18

-15.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.39 $1.39

-8.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.94 $29.94

$25.03 $25.03

19.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 $1.20

-17.50%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$35.0K $35.0K

-22.19%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.94%

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

$244 $244

$194 $194

25.31%

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

$66.2 $66.2

$69.5 $69.5

-4.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 $64.4

$61.6 $61.6

4.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.14 $32.14

$47.90 $47.90

-32.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 $11.76

$27.34 $27.34

-56.99%

Cinema Ticket

$15.16 $15.16

$17.81 $17.81

-14.88%

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

$1,557 $1,557

$1,794 $1,794

-13.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K $24.0K

$31.9K $31.9K

-24.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 $54.0

$67.0 $67.0

-19.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.07 $41.07

$52.1 $52.1

-21.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$102 $102

-25.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$144 $144

-2.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,776 $1,776

$2,526 $2,526

-29.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,409 $1,409

$1,578 $1,578

-10.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,426 $3,426

$4,738 $4,738

-27.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 $2,577

$2,693 $2,693

-4.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,955 $2,955

$4,190 $4,190

-29.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,132 $2,132

$2,768 $2,768

-22.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,022 $7,022

$4,931 $4,931

42.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.81

-4.41%

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

Last update for Frisco, 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

Frisco, TX

$1.4K 50.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 12% $169

Groceries & Markets

Frisco, TX

$390 13.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 14.7% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Frisco, TX

$374 13.3%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 13% $49

Eating Out

Frisco, TX

$286 10.2%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 20.4% $59

Getting Around

Frisco, TX

$153 5.5%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 39.1% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Frisco, TX

$139 5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 17.7% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Frisco, TX

$62 2.2%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 33.7% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,776 in Frisco, 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 42% higher in Frisco, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Frisco, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $390 vs $447 – making Frisco, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Frisco, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

11:38 11:38 AM

Same time as Frisco, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

873,965

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Frisco, TX Chicago, IL 1,260 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Frisco, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,815 in Frisco, TX, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 8% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,222 per month in Frisco, 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 Frisco, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,776 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Frisco, TX and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Frisco, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.