Cost of Living Comparison Between San Antonio, TX and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between San Antonio, TX and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: San Antonio, TX is 16.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: San Antonio, TX is 19.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.17 $19.17
$20.82 $20.82
-7.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 $69.9
$100 $100
-30.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 $11.88
$11.97 $11.97
-0.75%
Cappuccino
$5.16 $5.16
$5.56 $5.56
-7.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$3.11 $3.11
-23.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.42 $2.42
-17.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.1 $6.1
$6.86 $6.86
-11.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.94 $6.94
$8.45 $8.45
-17.87%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.04 $1.04
-6.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$4.15 $4.15
-26.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$5.52 $5.52
-15.94%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$4.65 $4.65
-20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.7 $10.7
$14.33 $14.33
-25.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.94 $9.94
$14.88 $14.88
-33.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.19 $15.19
$19.34 $19.34
-21.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.1 $4.1
$5.17 $5.17
-20.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.71 $1.71
-11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.41 $4.41
-10.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$4.51 $4.51
-27.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.74 $2.74
-4.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.43 $2.43
-26.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$2.7 $2.7
-28.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.9 $8.9
$15.19 $15.19
-41.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.71 $13.71
$16.42 $16.42
-16.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.35 $2.35
4.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.7 $3.7
-13.24%
🚌 Getting Around
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.53 $2.53
-16.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.77 $38.77
$74.1 $74.1
-47.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.34 $3.34
5.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.42 $1.42
29.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.56 $45.56
$25.42 $25.42
79.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.08 $1.08
-32.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$197 $197
$188 $188
4.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2 $59.2
$63.7 $63.7
-7.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76 $76
$65.2 $65.2
16.60%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43 $43
$76.7 $76.7
-43.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.94 $4.94
$13.03 $13.03
-62.09%
Cinema Ticket
$14.1 $14.1
$14.93 $14.93
-5.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,119 $1,119
$2,063 $2,063
-45.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K $16.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-58.32%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.34 $45.34
$64.3 $64.3
-29.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 $40.88
$52.4 $52.4
-21.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$95.2 $95.2
-6.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$145 $145
-1.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,490 $1,490
$2,378 $2,378
-37.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,166 $1,166
$1,584 $1,584
-26.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 $2,670
$4,763 $4,763
-43.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,979 $1,979
$2,815 $2,815
-29.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,740 $3,740
$3,588 $3,588
4.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,950 $1,950
$2,490 $2,490
-21.70%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,096 $4,096
$5,275 $5,275
-22.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.29
6.6
-4.70%

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

Last update for San Antonio, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.