Cost of Living Comparison Between The Woodlands, TX and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between The Woodlands, TX and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: The Woodlands, TX is 31.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: The Woodlands, TX is 26.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$20.82 $20.82
-3.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5 $75.5
$100 $100
-24.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 $10.12
$11.97 $11.97
-15.46%
Cappuccino
$4.4 $4.4
$5.56 $5.56
-20.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 $3.11
-17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.42 $2.42
-8.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.45 $5.45
$6.86 $6.86
-20.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.32 $6.32
$8.45 $8.45
-25.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.15 $4.15
-17.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$5.52 $5.52
-37.14%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$4.65 $4.65
-7.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 $12.04
$14.33 $14.33
-15.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.8 $10.8
$14.88 $14.88
-27.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 $14.79
$19.34 $19.34
-23.53%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$5.17 $5.17
-2.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.71 $1.71
-29.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$4.41 $4.41
1.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$4.51 $4.51
-13.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.53 $2.53
-9.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.74 $2.74
1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 $1.43
$2.43 $2.43
-41.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 $1.31
$2.7 $2.7
-51.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.77 $8.77
$15.19 $15.19
-42.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 $15.03
$16.42 $16.42
-8.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.35 $2.35
1.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$3.7 $3.7
-58.65%
🚌 Getting Around
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 $4.46
$3.34 $3.34
33.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.42 $1.42
23.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.02 $35.02
$25.42 $25.42
37.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.08 $1.08
-30.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K $22.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-29.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K $20.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-21.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$188 $188
-8.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$63.7 $63.7
-8.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51 $51
$65.2 $65.2
-21.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.9 $34.9
$76.7 $76.7
-54.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.92 $14.92
$14.93 $14.93
-0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$2,063 $2,063
-33.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.9K $21.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-44.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1 $56.1
$64.3 $64.3
-12.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.69 $45.69
$52.4 $52.4
-12.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86 $86
$95.2 $95.2
-9.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$145 $145
-20.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,883 $1,883
$2,378 $2,378
-20.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,955 $1,955
$1,584 $1,584
23.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,956 $2,956
$4,763 $4,763
-37.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,489 $2,489
$2,815 $2,815
-11.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,920 $1,920
$3,588 $3,588
-46.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,899 $1,899
$2,490 $2,490
-23.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Woodlands, TX
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,219 $7,219
$5,275 $5,275
36.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for The Woodlands, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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