Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Longview, TX: $2,623 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

127

Cost of Living Index in Longview, TX
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Longview, TX Living Index
147

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

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Longview, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,623

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,623 per month in Longview, TX vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Longview, TX $2,623
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,047 per month in Longview, TX vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Longview, TX $4,047
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,471 per month in Longview, TX vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Longview, TX $5,471
Chicago, IL $5,999

Longview, TX is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Longview, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Longview, TX by 93%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.86 $17.86

$20.71 $20.71

-13.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 $53.0

$89.2 $89.2

-40.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.70 $10.70

$13.19 $13.19

-18.88%

Cappuccino

$6.14 $6.14

$5.66 $5.66

8.48%

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

$2.60 $2.60

$2.64 $2.64

-1.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.28 $2.28

-35.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.87 $6.87

-27.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$8.84 $8.84

-18.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.25 $1.25

-25.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.72 $3.72

6.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.39 $5.39

-38.40%

Eggs

$3.66 $3.66

$4.74 $4.74

-22.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$13.84 $13.84

-20.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$14.40 $14.40

-24.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.59 $18.59

$18.38 $18.38

1.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$5.22 $5.22

-46.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.98 $1.98

-10.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$4.06 $4.06

-6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$4.97 $4.97

-45.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.67 $2.67

-19.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.66 $2.66

-25.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.24 $2.24

-15.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$3.13 $3.13

-57.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 $9.97

$13.82 $13.82

-27.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.14 $14.14

$14.88 $14.88

-4.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.54 $2.54

-17.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 $3.20

$3.51 $3.51

-8.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.43 $2.43

24.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.9 $65.9

$73.5 $73.5

-10.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.18 $3.18

-6.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.39 $1.39

-10.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.19 $24.19

$25.03 $25.03

-3.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.20 $1.20

-29.17%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-19.49%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.21%

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

$211 $211

$194 $194

8.60%

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

$90.3 $90.3

$69.5 $69.5

30.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.9 $82.9

$61.6 $61.6

34.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.0 $54.0

$47.90 $47.90

12.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$15.21 $15.21

$17.81 $17.81

-14.60%

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

$1,931 $1,931

$1,794 $1,794

7.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-13.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.17 $44.17

$67.0 $67.0

-34.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.00 $48.00

$52.1 $52.1

-7.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$102 $102

-4.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$144 $144

-10.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 $1,495

$2,526 $2,526

-40.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 $1,268

$1,578 $1,578

-19.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,943 $2,943

$4,738 $4,738

-37.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,642 $2,642

$2,693 $2,693

-1.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,968 $1,968

$4,190 $4,190

-53.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,893 $1,893

$2,768 $2,768

-31.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,803 $3,803

$4,931 $4,931

-22.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.81

-2.79%

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

Last update for Longview, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Longview, TX

$1.3K 48.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 24.4% $310

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Longview, TX

$384 14.7%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 15.3% $59

Groceries & Markets

Longview, TX

$352 13.4%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 27.1% $95

Eating Out

Longview, TX

$304 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 13.4% $41

Clothing & Footwear

Longview, TX

$143 5.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 14.7% $21

Getting Around

Longview, TX

$87 3.3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 7.1% $6.2

Sport & Entertainment

Longview, TX

$84 3.2%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 1.1% $0.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,495 in Longview, TX versus $2,526 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 30% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53 in Longview, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $447 – making Longview, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Longview, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

14:59 2:59 PM

Same time as Longview, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

81,638

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Longview, TX Chicago, IL 1,220 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Longview, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,623 in Longview, TX, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Longview, TX comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,935 per month in Longview, TX and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Longview, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,495 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53 in Longview, TX and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Longview, TX, where all-in costs run around $2,623, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Longview, 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 $2,623 in Longview, TX to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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