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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Marcos, TX is 26.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Marcos, TX is 29% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.24 $19.24

$20.82 $20.82

-7.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.8 $69.8

$100 $100

-30.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$11.97 $11.97

-17.96%

Cappuccino

$4.74 $4.74

$5.56 $5.56

-14.75%

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

$2.86 $2.86

$3.11 $3.11

-8.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.42 $2.42

-9.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.1 $6.1

$6.86 $6.86

-11.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.16 $7.16

$8.45 $8.45

-15.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.15 $4.15

-26.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.52 $5.52

-37.86%

Eggs

$3.84 $3.84

$4.65 $4.65

-17.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 $9.64

$14.33 $14.33

-32.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.24 $12.24

$14.88 $14.88

-17.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.02 $17.02

$19.34 $19.34

-12.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.17 $5.17

-21.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.71 $1.71

-28.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.41 $4.41

-8.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$4.51 $4.51

-44.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.53 $2.53

13.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.74 $2.74

-16.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.43 $2.43

-23.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.7 $2.7

-19.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.89 $7.89

$15.19 $15.19

-48.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$16.42 $16.42

-26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.35 $2.35

-14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.7 $3.7

1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.34 $3.34

17.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.42 $1.42

31.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.57 $29.57

$25.42 $25.42

16.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.08 $1.08

-28.70%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-0.49%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.60%

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

$192 $192

$188 $188

2.21%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$63.7 $63.7

-2.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$65.2 $65.2

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.7 $67.7

$76.7 $76.7

-11.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$14.93 $14.93

1.47%

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

$661 $661

$2,063 $2,063

-67.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.2K $19.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-51.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.5 $46.5

$64.3 $64.3

-27.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.01 $45.01

$52.4 $52.4

-14.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 $98.8

$95.2 $95.2

3.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$145 $145

-15.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 $1,344

$2,378 $2,378

-43.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 $1,389

$1,584 $1,584

-12.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,973 $2,973

$4,763 $4,763

-37.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,424 $2,424

$2,815 $2,815

-13.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,377 $2,377

$3,588 $3,588

-33.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,863 $1,863

$2,490 $2,490

-25.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,177 $3,177

$5,275 $5,275

-39.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

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

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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