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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,991 per month in Paris, TX vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,909 per month in Paris, TX vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,827 per month in Paris, TX vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Paris, TX is about 36% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Paris, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Paris, TX by 45%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.76 $14.76

$19.86 $19.86

-25.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.7 $69.7

$88.3 $88.3

-21.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 $8.94

$13.23 $13.23

-32.43%

Cappuccino

$4.08 $4.08

$5.86 $5.86

-30.38%

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

$2.40 $2.40

$2.61 $2.61

-8.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.32 $2.32

-27.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$7.03 $7.03

-30.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$9.25 $9.25

-23.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.34 $1.34

-29.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.19 $4.19

-17.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$5.50 $5.50

4.36%

Eggs

$4.30 $4.30

$4.71 $4.71

-8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$14.72 $14.72

3.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$14.53 $14.53

-17.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$19.69 $19.69

-20.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.64 $5.64

-23.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.97 $1.97

-12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.04 $4.04

27.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$5.07 $5.07

-26.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.94 $2.94

-4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.92 $2.92

-4.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.28 $2.28

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.12 $3.12

-26.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.28 $7.28

$16.19 $16.19

-55.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.43 $9.43

$15.17 $15.17

-37.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.67 $2.67

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.80 $4.80

$3.48 $3.48

37.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.54 $2.54

-61.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.79 $29.79

$76.0 $76.0

-60.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.16 $3.16

-36.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.37 $1.37

-11.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$22.66 $22.66

30.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.20 $1.20

-27.50%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$37.0K $37.0K

-5.67%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.90%

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

$243 $243

$190 $190

28.45%

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

$68.6 $68.6

$68.5 $68.5

0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 $64.1

$61.1 $61.1

5.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.7 $50.7

$63.8 $63.8

-20.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.56 $39.56

$27.80 $27.80

42.30%

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$18.28 $18.28

-19.42%

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

$1,193 $1,193

$1,525 $1,525

-21.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$32.0K $32.0K

-21.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 $56.4

$64.0 $64.0

-11.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.7 $62.7

$54.4 $54.4

15.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$101 $101

21.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$153 $153

-2.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 $931

$2,421 $2,421

-61.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 $657

$1,690 $1,690

-61.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,273 $1,273

$4,584 $4,584

-72.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,009 $1,009

$2,782 $2,782

-63.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,587 $1,587

$4,170 $4,170

-61.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,547 $1,547

$2,739 $2,739

-43.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,891 $3,891

$4,777 $4,777

-18.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.09

6.38

-4.55%

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

Last update for Paris, TX: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $931 in Paris, TX versus $2,421 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 23% 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 $70.0 in Paris, TX versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $465 – making Paris, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,991 in Paris, TX, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 56% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,987 per month in Paris, TX and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 18% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Paris, TX and $88.0 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 Paris, TX, where all-in costs run around $1,991, than in Chicago, IL at $3,106. In Paris, 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 $1,991 in Paris, TX to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Paris, 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.