Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Mansfield, TX: $2,583 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Mansfield, TX
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Mansfield, TX Living Index
146

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

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Mansfield, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,583

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,583 per month in Mansfield, TX vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mansfield, TX $2,583
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,908 per month in Mansfield, TX vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mansfield, TX $3,908
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,232 per month in Mansfield, TX vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mansfield, TX $5,232
Chicago, IL $6,019

Mansfield, TX is about 16% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mansfield, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Mansfield, TX by 91%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.71 $17.71

$20.39 $20.39

-13.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 $69.9

$88.6 $88.6

-21.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.05 $12.05

$12.85 $12.85

-6.23%

Cappuccino

$5.57 $5.57

$5.78 $5.78

-3.63%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.74 $2.74

8.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.26 $2.26

8.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.47 $5.47

$6.88 $6.88

-20.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 $7.82

$9.24 $9.24

-15.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.26 $1.26

-23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.55 $3.55

1.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$5.38 $5.38

-34.39%

Eggs

$4.03 $4.03

$4.55 $4.55

-11.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 $11.15

$13.65 $13.65

-18.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.00 $14.00

$14.07 $14.07

-0.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.83 $16.83

$18.06 $18.06

-6.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$5.16 $5.16

-9.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.98 $1.98

-26.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.88 $3.88

20.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.83 $4.83

-7.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.81 $2.81

-4.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.67 $2.67

-7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.07 $2.07

-13.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.03 $3.03

-30.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 $10.12

$13.90 $13.90

-27.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$15.05 $15.05

-2.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.63 $2.63

-23.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.45 $3.45

-5.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.43 $2.43

-25.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 $68.8

$75.3 $75.3

-8.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.17 $3.17

-15.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.70 $1.70

-3.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.66 $23.66

$24.90 $24.90

-4.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.28 $1.28

-19.53%

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

$34.8K $34.8K

$35.8K $35.8K

-2.63%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.37%

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

$206 $206

$192 $192

7.44%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$69.6 $69.6

-16.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 $68.9

$62.2 $62.2

10.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.20 $40.20

$47.79 $47.79

-15.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$14.19 $14.19

$17.83 $17.83

-20.42%

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

$1,456 $1,456

$1,815 $1,815

-19.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.7K $26.7K

$40.6K $40.6K

-34.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 $60.3

$66.2 $66.2

-8.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.24 $45.24

$51.4 $51.4

-11.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 $99.1

$103 $103

-4.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$143 $143

-24.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$2,531 $2,531

-37.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 $1,250

$1,621 $1,621

-22.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,551 $2,551

$4,828 $4,828

-47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,337 $2,337

$2,734 $2,734

-14.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$4,163 $4,163

-35.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,115 $2,115

$2,723 $2,723

-22.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,930 $5,930

$4,924 $4,924

20.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.78

-2.36%

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

Last update for Mansfield, TX: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Mansfield, TX

$1.2K 48.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 29.7% $371

Groceries & Markets

Mansfield, TX

$395 15.3%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 11.3% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mansfield, TX

$334 12.9%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 2.9% $9.7

Eating Out

Mansfield, TX

$309 12%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 11.2% $35

Clothing & Footwear

Mansfield, TX

$140 5.4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 16.5% $23

Getting Around

Mansfield, TX

$87 3.4%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 11.2% $9.7

Sport & Entertainment

Mansfield, TX

$69 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 21.7% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,590 in Mansfield, TX versus $2,531 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 20% higher in Mansfield, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Mansfield, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $439 – making Mansfield, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Mansfield, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

22:45 10:45 PM

Same time as Mansfield, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

50,212

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Mansfield, TX Chicago, IL 1,330 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Mansfield, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,583 in Mansfield, TX, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Mansfield, TX comes out roughly 16% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,875 per month in Mansfield, TX and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mansfield, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,590 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Mansfield, TX and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,583 in Mansfield, TX and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Mansfield, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Mansfield, TX is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 16% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.