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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Galveston, TX is 44.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Galveston, TX is 28.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 37.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 $13.14
$20.82 $20.82
-36.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.3 $64.3
$100 $100
-35.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.6 $8.6
$11.97 $11.97
-28.15%
Cappuccino
$4.67 $4.67
$5.56 $5.56
-16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$3.11 $3.11
-9.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$2.42 $2.42
-34.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.86 $6.86
-33.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 $4.05
$8.45 $8.45
-52.07%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.04 $1.04
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.15 $4.15
-38.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$5.52 $5.52
-59.42%
Eggs
$2.59 $2.59
$4.65 $4.65
-44.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.3 $10.3
$14.33 $14.33
-28.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 $8.35
$14.88 $14.88
-43.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.23 $13.23
$19.34 $19.34
-31.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 $4.13
$5.17 $5.17
-20.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.71 $1.71
-30.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.8 $5.8
$4.41 $4.41
31.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$4.51 $4.51
-30.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.74 $2.74
-21.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.43 $2.43
-28.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.7 $2.7
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12 $8.12
$15.19 $15.19
-46.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.87 $10.87
$16.42 $16.42
-33.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$3.7 $3.7
-59.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 $7.66
$3.34 $3.34
129.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.42 $1.42
29.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.14 $29.14
$25.42 $25.42
14.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.08 $1.08
-31.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 $189
$188 $188
0.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.95 $44.95
$63.7 $63.7
-29.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$65.2 $65.2
-4.16%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.9 $24.9
$76.7 $76.7
-67.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 $11.04
$14.93 $14.93
-26.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,161 $1,161
$2,063 $2,063
-43.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K $17.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-54.50%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.04 $40.04
$64.3 $64.3
-37.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.77 $37.77
$52.4 $52.4
-27.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.1 $73.1
$95.2 $95.2
-23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 $79.7
$145 $145
-44.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,488 $1,488
$2,378 $2,378
-37.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$984 $984
$1,584 $1,584
-37.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,663 $2,663
$4,763 $4,763
-44.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,729 $1,729
$2,815 $2,815
-38.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,702 $2,702
$3,588 $3,588
-24.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,172 $2,172
$2,490 $2,490
-12.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Galveston, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,930 $3,930
$5,275 $5,275
-25.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.71
6.6
1.67%

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

Last update for Galveston, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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