Cost of Living Comparison Between Houston, MO and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Houston, MO and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Houston, MO is 20.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Houston, MO is 13.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.85 $11.85
$20.82 $20.82
-43.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7 $85.7
$100 $100
-14.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 $10.81
$11.97 $11.97
-9.69%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$5.56 $5.56
-0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.11 $3.11
-12.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.42 $2.42
-11.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$6.86 $6.86
-13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.62 $6.62
$8.45 $8.45
-21.66%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.04 $1.04
3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 $3.16
$4.15 $4.15
-23.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.43 $6.43
$5.52 $5.52
16.49%
Eggs
$4.67 $4.67
$4.65 $4.65
0.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.28 $18.28
$14.33 $14.33
27.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.12 $16.12
$14.88 $14.88
8.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.46 $16.46
$19.34 $19.34
-14.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$5.17 $5.17
-11.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.71 $1.71
-25.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.41 $4.41
-17.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$4.51 $4.51
-38.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.53 $2.53
-5.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.74 $2.74
-2.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.43 $2.43
-24.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.7 $2.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.08 $10.08
$15.19 $15.19
-33.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.16 $12.16
$16.42 $16.42
-25.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.35 $2.35
-20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.7 $3.7
-16.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Houston, MO
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)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.34 $3.34
4.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.65 $29.65
$25.42 $25.42
16.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.08 $1.08
-28.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K $33.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
26.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$188 $188
4.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.61 $47.61
$63.7 $63.7
-25.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 $50.1
$65.2 $65.2
-23.16%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.59 $43.59
$76.7 $76.7
-43.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.3 $15.3
$14.93 $14.93
2.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$2,063 $2,063
-38.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.92%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.9 $46.9
$64.3 $64.3
-27.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.58 $39.58
$52.4 $52.4
-24.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.8 $67.8
$95.2 $95.2
-28.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9 $68.9
$145 $145
-52.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 $1,588
$2,378 $2,378
-33.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 $1,333
$1,584 $1,584
-15.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,632 $2,632
$4,763 $4,763
-44.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,238 $2,238
$2,815 $2,815
-20.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,181 $3,181
$3,588 $3,588
-11.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,529 $2,529
$2,490 $2,490
1.55%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Houston, MO
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%

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

Last update for Houston, MO: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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