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

🙂 Solo nomad: Houston, TX is 13.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Houston, TX is 13.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.82 $20.82

-2.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.3 $79.3

$100 $100

-20.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.16 $10.16

$11.97 $11.97

-15.12%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$5.56 $5.56

-3.96%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$3.11 $3.11

-8.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.42 $2.42

-8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$6.86 $6.86

-10.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$8.45 $8.45

-18.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.04 $1.04

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 $3.11

$4.15 $4.15

-25.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$5.52 $5.52

-38.22%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$4.65 $4.65

-12.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.94 $12.94

$14.33 $14.33

-9.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.07 $12.07

$14.88 $14.88

-18.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.05 $17.05

$19.34 $19.34

-11.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$5.17 $5.17

-17.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.4 $1.4

$1.71 $1.71

-18.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.41 $4.41

-8.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$4.51 $4.51

-44.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.53 $2.53

13.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.74 $2.74

-16.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.43 $2.43

-25.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.7 $2.7

-17.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$15.19 $15.19

-35.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 $12.24

$16.42 $16.42

-25.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.35 $2.35

-16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

$3.7 $3.7

3.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.53 $2.53

-49.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.4 $74.4

$74.1 $74.1

0.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.34 $3.34

19.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.42 $1.42

33.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.44 $29.44

$25.42 $25.42

15.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.08 $1.08

-26.85%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

0.63%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.59%

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

$198 $198

$188 $188

5.43%

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

$63 $63

$63.7 $63.7

-1.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$65.2 $65.2

1.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.34 $39.34

$76.7 $76.7

-48.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.85 $10.85

$13.03 $13.03

-16.73%

Cinema Ticket

$14.88 $14.88

$14.93 $14.93

-0.33%

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)

$19.1K $19.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-51.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.43 $46.43

$64.3 $64.3

-27.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$52.4 $52.4

-17.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 $99.1

$95.2 $95.2

4.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$145 $145

-13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 $1,661

$2,378 $2,378

-30.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 $1,276

$1,584 $1,584

-19.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,167 $3,167

$4,763 $4,763

-33.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,450 $2,450

$2,815 $2,815

-12.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,534 $2,534

$3,588 $3,588

-29.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,912 $1,912

$2,490 $2,490

-23.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,591 $4,591

$5,275 $5,275

-12.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

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

Last update for Houston, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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