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

🙂 Solo nomad: McAllen, TX is 22.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 41.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: McAllen, TX is 30.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 44.7% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.67 $14.67

$20.82 $20.82

-29.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69 $69

$100 $100

-31.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.2 $8.2

$11.97 $11.97

-31.50%

Cappuccino

$4.31 $4.31

$5.56 $5.56

-22.48%

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

$2.62 $2.62

$3.11 $3.11

-15.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.42 $2.42

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$6.86 $6.86

-25.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 $5.96

$8.45 $8.45

-29.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.04 $1.04

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 $3.14

$4.15 $4.15

-24.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.52 $5.52

-42.93%

Eggs

$3.2 $3.2

$4.65 $4.65

-31.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$14.33 $14.33

-31.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$14.88 $14.88

-34.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.59 $15.59

$19.34 $19.34

-19.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.17 $5.17

-11.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.71 $1.71

-15.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.41 $4.41

-21.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.4 $2.4

$4.51 $4.51

-46.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.53 $2.53

5.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.74 $2.74

5.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.43 $2.43

-31.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.7 $2.7

-22.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.58 $8.58

$15.19 $15.19

-43.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.2 $12.2

$16.42 $16.42

-25.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.35 $2.35

-12.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.7 $3.7

-33.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.53 $2.53

-61.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.1 $4.1

$3.34 $3.34

22.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.42 $1.42

-45.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.41 $29.41

$25.42 $25.42

15.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.08 $1.08

-31.48%

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

$29K $29K

$32.4K $32.4K

-10.47%

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

$22.1K $22.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

-15.53%

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

$176 $176

$188 $188

-6.67%

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

$39.01 $39.01

$63.7 $63.7

-38.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.9 $73.9

$65.2 $65.2

13.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.72 $44.72

$76.7 $76.7

-41.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.06 $12.06

$14.93 $14.93

-19.22%

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

$892 $892

$2,063 $2,063

-56.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.8 $68.8

$64.3 $64.3

6.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.94 $43.94

$52.4 $52.4

-16.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 $74.9

$95.2 $95.2

-21.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.3 $95.3

$145 $145

-34.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$819 $819

$2,378 $2,378

-65.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 $697

$1,584 $1,584

-56.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$4,763 $4,763

-71.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,137 $1,137

$2,815 $2,815

-59.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,699 $1,699

$3,588 $3,588

-52.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,681 $1,681

$2,490 $2,490

-32.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,757 $3,757

$5,275 $5,275

-28.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.6

-0.15%

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

Last update for McAllen, TX: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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