Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Harlingen, TX: $1,492 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

128

Cost of Living Index in Harlingen, TX
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Harlingen, TX Living Index
153

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

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Harlingen, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$1,492

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,492 per month in Harlingen, TX vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Harlingen, TX $1,492
Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $1,876 per month in Harlingen, TX vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Harlingen, TX $1,876
Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $2,259 per month in Harlingen, TX vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Harlingen, TX $2,259
Chicago, IL $6,077

Harlingen, TX is about 53% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Harlingen, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Harlingen, TX by 11%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.27 $12.27

$21.58 $21.58

-43.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.71 $46.71

$88.7 $88.7

-47.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.11 $9.11

$13.20 $13.20

-30.98%

Cappuccino

$4.99 $4.99

$5.59 $5.59

-10.73%

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

$2.00 $2.00

$2.63 $2.63

-23.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.26 $2.26

-11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$7.11 $7.11

-15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$9.23 $9.23

-50.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.28 $1.28

-25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.84 $3.84

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

Eggs

$3.52 $3.52

$4.84 $4.84

-27.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 $14.17

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.76 $18.76

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$2.00 $2.00

-34.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 $2.13

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.05 $16.05

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 $3.21

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.02 $25.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.24 $1.24

-16.94%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

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

$25.8K $25.8K

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

$199 $199

$192 $192

3.52%

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

$99.1 $99.1

$67.8 $67.8

46.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.44 $49.44

$60.9 $60.9

-18.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

Cinema Ticket

$17.80 $17.80

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

$1,554 $1,554

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K $31.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.9 $67.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 $836

$2,383 $2,383

-64.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 $873

$1,712 $1,712

-49.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 $1,385

$4,674 $4,674

-70.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,015 $1,015

$2,738 $2,738

-62.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,886 $1,886

$4,158 $4,158

-54.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,869 $1,869

$2,691 $2,691

-30.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,030 $4,030

$4,894 $4,894

-17.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.77

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

Last update for Harlingen, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Harlingen, TX

$873 58.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 96.2% $839

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Harlingen, TX

$348 23.3%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 7.7% $27

Eating Out

Harlingen, TX

$241 16.1%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 46.7% $112

Groceries & Markets

Harlingen, TX

$32 * 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 1325% $420

Getting Around

Harlingen, TX

- * 0%

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Sport & Entertainment

Harlingen, TX

- * 0%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8%

Clothing & Footwear

Harlingen, TX

- * 0%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $836 in Harlingen, TX versus $2,383 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 21% 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 $47.00 in Harlingen, TX versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $32.00 vs $451 – making Harlingen, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Harlingen, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

00:19 12:19 AM

Same time as Harlingen, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

71,829

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Harlingen, TX Chicago, IL 1,970 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Harlingen, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,492 in Harlingen, TX, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 113% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,239 per month in Harlingen, TX and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Harlingen, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Harlingen, TX and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,492 in Harlingen, TX and $3,185 in Chicago, IL. That's a gap of about 113%.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Harlingen, TX, where all-in costs run around $1,492, than in Chicago, IL at $3,185. In Harlingen, 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 $1,492 in Harlingen, TX to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Harlingen, TX. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.