Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in McAllen, TX: $1,788 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $16,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

87

Cost of Living Index in McAllen, TX
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McAllen, TX Living Index
153

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

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McAllen, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$1,788

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,788 per month in McAllen, TX vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

McAllen, TX $1,788
Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $2,731 per month in McAllen, TX vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

McAllen, TX $2,731
Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $3,674 per month in McAllen, TX vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

McAllen, TX $3,674
Chicago, IL $6,077

McAllen, TX is about 44% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both McAllen, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – McAllen, TX by 32%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.21 $18.21

$21.58 $21.58

-15.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$88.7 $88.7

-13.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.93 $7.93

$13.20 $13.20

-39.92%

Cappuccino

$4.53 $4.53

$5.59 $5.59

-18.96%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$2.63 $2.63

-7.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.26 $2.26

-14.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 $4.97

$7.11 $7.11

-30.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 $5.40

$9.23 $9.23

-41.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.28 $1.28

-24.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.84 $3.84

-23.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.07 $5.07

-14.00%

Eggs

$3.37 $3.37

$4.84 $4.84

-30.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 $9.87

$14.17 $14.17

-30.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.58 $12.58

$14.61 $14.61

-13.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.09 $15.09

$18.76 $18.76

-19.56%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.19 $5.19

-0.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.00 $2.00

19.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.00 $4.00

-18.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$4.98 $4.98

-58.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.79 $2.79

6.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.65 $2.65

-1.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.13 $2.13

-18.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$3.09 $3.09

-32.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.68 $8.68

$16.05 $16.05

-45.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$15.20 $15.20

3.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.62 $2.62

-20.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.46 $3.46

-35.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.21 $3.21

33.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.39 $1.39

-43.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.02 $25.02

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.24 $1.24

-28.23%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$37.2K $37.2K

-27.38%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

-9.18%

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

$164 $164

$192 $192

-14.52%

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

$37.59 $37.59

$67.8 $67.8

-44.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$60.9 $60.9

8.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.90 $44.90

$53.6 $53.6

-16.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.90 $27.90

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 $12.23

$17.80 $17.80

-31.29%

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

$908 $908

$1,554 $1,554

-41.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K $31.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 $78.5

$67.9 $67.9

15.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.89 $44.89

$50.8 $50.8

-11.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 $74.2

$101 $101

-26.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 $96.6

$143 $143

-32.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 $816

$2,383 $2,383

-65.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$669 $669

$1,712 $1,712

-60.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,342 $1,342

$4,674 $4,674

-71.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 $1,144

$2,738 $2,738

-58.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,676 $1,676

$4,158 $4,158

-59.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,700 $1,700

$2,691 $2,691

-36.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,646 $3,646

$4,894 $4,894

-25.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.77

-4.28%

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

Last update for McAllen, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

McAllen, TX

$669 37.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 156% $1K

Groceries & Markets

McAllen, TX

$364 20.4%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 24% $87

Eating Out

McAllen, TX

$277 15.5%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 27.4% $76

Monthly Utilities & Internet

McAllen, TX

$268 15%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 19.6% $53

Clothing & Footwear

McAllen, TX

$132 7.4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1% 23.5% $31

Sport & Entertainment

McAllen, TX

$69 3.9%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8% 28.6% $20

Getting Around

McAllen, TX

$8.2 * 0.5%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 1060% $87

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $816 in McAllen, TX versus $2,383 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 34% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in McAllen, TX versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $451 – making McAllen, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 McAllen, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

19:31 7:31 PM

Same time as McAllen, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

142,210

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

McAllen, TX Chicago, IL 1,990 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

McAllen, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,788 in McAllen, TX, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 78% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,682 per month in McAllen, TX and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in McAllen, TX, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in McAllen, TX and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in McAllen, TX, where all-in costs run around $1,788, than in Chicago, IL at $3,185. In McAllen, 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 $1,788 in McAllen, TX to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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