Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pearland, TX: $2,404 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

114

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

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

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Pearland, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,404

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,404 per month in Pearland, TX vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Pearland, TX $2,404
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,416 per month in Pearland, TX vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Pearland, TX $3,416
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,428 per month in Pearland, TX vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Pearland, TX $4,428
Chicago, IL $6,019

Pearland, TX is about 22% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Pearland, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Pearland, TX by 78%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.70 $20.70

$20.39 $20.39

1.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.2 $74.2

$88.6 $88.6

-16.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 $10.15

$12.85 $12.85

-21.01%

Cappuccino

$5.67 $5.67

$5.78 $5.78

-1.90%

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

$3.54 $3.54

$2.74 $2.74

29.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.26 $2.26

9.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.88 $6.88

-11.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.17 $8.17

$9.24 $9.24

-11.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.26 $1.26

-29.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.55 $3.55

-6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$5.38 $5.38

-34.01%

Eggs

$3.11 $3.11

$4.55 $4.55

-31.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.03 $13.03

$13.65 $13.65

-4.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.40 $13.40

$14.07 $14.07

-4.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 $16.05

$18.06 $18.06

-11.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$5.16 $5.16

-20.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.98 $1.98

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.88 $3.88

-23.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.83 $4.83

-17.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.81 $2.81

-21.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.67 $2.67

-8.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.07 $2.07

-9.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$3.03 $3.03

-29.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 $9.87

$13.90 $13.90

-28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 $14.44

$15.05 $15.05

-4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.63 $2.63

-2.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.45 $3.45

-15.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.17 $3.17

-11.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.70 $1.70

-6.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.79 $23.79

$24.90 $24.90

-4.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.28 $1.28

-23.44%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

$35.8K $35.8K

-3.79%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.8K $26.8K

-0.58%

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

$198 $198

$192 $192

3.25%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$69.6 $69.6

-13.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$62.2 $62.2

13.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$14.06 $14.06

$17.83 $17.83

-21.14%

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

$1,436 $1,436

$1,815 $1,815

-20.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.6K $27.6K

$40.6K $40.6K

-32.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$66.2 $66.2

-23.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.73 $45.73

$51.4 $51.4

-11.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 $87.2

$103 $103

-15.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 $94.2

$143 $143

-33.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 $1,481

$2,531 $2,531

-41.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,199 $1,199

$1,621 $1,621

-26.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 $2,078

$4,828 $4,828

-56.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 $1,780

$2,734 $2,734

-34.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,668 $5,668

$4,924 $4,924

15.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.78

-1.62%

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

Last update for Pearland, 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

Pearland, TX

$1.2K 49.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 35.2% $422

Groceries & Markets

Pearland, TX

$376 15.6%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 16.8% $63

Eating Out

Pearland, TX

$335 13.9%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 2.7% $9.2

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pearland, TX

$329 13.7%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 1.7% $5.6

Clothing & Footwear

Pearland, TX

$125 5.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 30.8% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Pearland, TX

$28 * 1.2%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 197% $55

Getting Around

Pearland, TX

$11 * 0.5%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 799% $86

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,481 in Pearland, 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 15% higher in Pearland, 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 $74 in Pearland, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $439 – making Pearland, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Pearland, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

08:54 8:54 AM

Same time as Pearland, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

91,000

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Pearland, TX Chicago, IL 1,530 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Pearland, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,404 in Pearland, TX, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Pearland, TX comes out roughly 22% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,606 per month in Pearland, 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 Pearland, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,481 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Pearland, TX and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,404 in Pearland, 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 Pearland, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.