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

😐 Solo nomad: Plano, TX is 4.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Plano, TX is 5.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.33 $18.33
$20.82 $20.82
-11.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 $74.4
$100 $100
-25.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 $10.09
$11.97 $11.97
-15.71%
Cappuccino
$4.82 $4.82
$5.56 $5.56
-13.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 $3.11
-17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.42 $2.42
-17.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 $5.83
$6.86 $6.86
-15.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 $6.96
$8.45 $8.45
-17.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.04 $1.04
-11.54%
White Bread (500g)
$3.08 $3.08
$4.15 $4.15
-25.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$5.52 $5.52
-8.33%
Eggs
$4.24 $4.24
$4.65 $4.65
-8.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 $13.27
$14.33 $14.33
-7.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.14 $14.14
$14.88 $14.88
-4.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.61 $17.61
$19.34 $19.34
-8.95%
Apples (1kg)
$6.1 $6.1
$5.17 $5.17
17.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.71 $1.71
-17.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$4.41 $4.41
-5.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.51 $4.51
-7.98%
Potato (1kg)
$3.59 $3.59
$2.53 $2.53
41.90%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.74 $2.74
9.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.7 $2.7
-14.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$15.19 $15.19
-34.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$16.42 $16.42
-8.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 $3.36
$3.7 $3.7
-9.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.99 $4.99
$2.53 $2.53
97.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$103 $103
$74.1 $74.1
38.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.34 $3.34
-10.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.42 $1.42
19.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.58 $23.58
$25.42 $25.42
-7.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K $28.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
7.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$188 $188
1.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.48 $45.48
$63.7 $63.7
-28.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.5 $64.5
$65.2 $65.2
-1.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.6 $81.6
$76.7 $76.7
6.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.65 $49.65
$13.03 $13.03
281.04%
Cinema Ticket
$12.91 $12.91
$14.93 $14.93
-13.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,156 $1,156
$2,063 $2,063
-43.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.1K $18.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54 $54
$64.3 $64.3
-16.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.76 $37.76
$52.4 $52.4
-27.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$95.2 $95.2
6.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$145 $145
-9.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,657 $1,657
$2,378 $2,378
-30.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 $1,344
$1,584 $1,584
-15.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,964 $2,964
$4,763 $4,763
-37.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,753 $2,753
$2,815 $2,815
-2.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,403 $2,403
$3,588 $3,588
-33.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,387 $2,387
$2,490 $2,490
-4.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plano, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,669 $5,669
$5,275 $5,275
7.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.6
-3.64%

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

Last update for Plano, TX: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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