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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Harlingen, TX is 10.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Harlingen, TX is 10.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.12 $19.12
$20.82 $20.82
-8.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.6 $73.6
$100 $100
-26.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.12 $11.12
$11.97 $11.97
-7.10%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$5.56 $5.56
-8.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.11 $3.11
-17.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.42 $2.42
-15.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$6.86 $6.86
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$8.45 $8.45
-18.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.04 $1.04
0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 $3.41
$4.15 $4.15
-17.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$5.52 $5.52
-22.28%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$4.65 $4.65
-8.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 $12.04
$14.33 $14.33
-15.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 $11.36
$14.88 $14.88
-23.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.32 $15.32
$19.34 $19.34
-20.79%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$5.17 $5.17
-3.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.71 $1.71
-8.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$4.41 $4.41
-3.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$4.51 $4.51
1.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.53 $2.53
11.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.74 $2.74
2.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.43 $2.43
-14.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.7 $2.7
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.48 $9.48
$15.19 $15.19
-37.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.04 $12.04
$16.42 $16.42
-26.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$3.7 $3.7
-8.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.34 $3.34
6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.61 $28.61
$25.42 $25.42
12.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$188 $188
-0.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.9 $51.9
$63.7 $63.7
-18.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69 $69
$65.2 $65.2
5.81%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.61 $43.61
$76.7 $76.7
-43.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.32 $13.32
$14.93 $14.93
-10.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$2,063 $2,063
-38.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.95%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.73 $39.73
$52.4 $52.4
-24.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 $87.3
$95.2 $95.2
-8.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-21.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$2,378 $2,378
-32.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,368 $1,368
$1,584 $1,584
-13.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,585 $2,585
$4,763 $4,763
-45.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 $2,186
$2,815 $2,815
-22.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,855 $1,855
$3,588 $3,588
-48.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,822 $1,822
$2,490 $2,490
-26.83%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Harlingen, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,663 $4,663
$5,275 $5,275
-11.60%
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 Harlingen, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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