Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Victoria, TX: $2,343 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

113

Cost of Living Index in Victoria, TX
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Victoria, TX Living Index
147

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

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Victoria, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,343

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,343 per month in Victoria, TX vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Victoria, TX $2,343
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,502 per month in Victoria, TX vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Victoria, TX $3,502
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,662 per month in Victoria, TX vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Victoria, TX $4,662
Chicago, IL $5,999

Victoria, TX is about 23% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Victoria, TX and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Victoria, TX by 72%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.95 $19.95

$20.71 $20.71

-3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$89.2 $89.2

-15.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.28 $11.28

$13.19 $13.19

-14.48%

Cappuccino

$6.90 $6.90

$5.66 $5.66

21.91%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$2.64 $2.64

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.28 $2.28

-21.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$6.87 $6.87

-25.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

$8.84 $8.84

-31.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.25 $1.25

-24.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.72 $3.72

-27.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.39 $5.39

-19.85%

Eggs

$3.80 $3.80

$4.74 $4.74

-19.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 $11.90

$13.84 $13.84

-14.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.19 $12.19

$14.40 $14.40

-15.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.12 $15.12

$18.38 $18.38

-17.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.22 $5.22

-7.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.98 $1.98

-45.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.06 $4.06

10.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$4.97 $4.97

-10.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.67 $2.67

9.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.66 $2.66

1.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.24 $2.24

-34.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.13 $3.13

9.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.06 $10.06

$13.82 $13.82

-27.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.23 $13.23

$14.88 $14.88

-11.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.54 $2.54

-20.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.51 $3.51

60.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.43 $2.43

-16.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.3 $60.3

$73.5 $73.5

-17.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.18 $3.18

-2.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.39 $1.39

37.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.10 $30.10

$25.03 $25.03

20.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.20 $1.20

-26.67%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-1.57%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

38.46%

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

$227 $227

$194 $194

16.53%

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

$58.6 $58.6

$69.5 $69.5

-15.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$90.4 $90.4

$61.6 $61.6

46.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.0 $53.0

$47.90 $47.90

10.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.34 $25.34

$27.34 $27.34

-7.32%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$17.81 $17.81

-21.17%

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

$876 $876

$1,794 $1,794

-51.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

-25.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$67.0 $67.0

-15.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.7 $73.7

$52.1 $52.1

41.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 $137

$102 $102

34.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$177 $177

$144 $144

23.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 $957

$2,526 $2,526

-62.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$883 $883

$1,578 $1,578

-44.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,522 $1,522

$4,738 $4,738

-67.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 $1,491

$2,693 $2,693

-44.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,631 $1,631

$4,190 $4,190

-61.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,641 $1,641

$2,768 $2,768

-40.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,686 $3,686

$4,931 $4,931

-25.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.05

6.81

-11.16%

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

Last update for Victoria, TX: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Victoria, TX

$883 37.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 78.7% $695

Groceries & Markets

Victoria, TX

$391 16.7%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 14.5% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Victoria, TX

$375 16%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 13.3% $50

Eating Out

Victoria, TX

$332 14.2%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 4% $13

Clothing & Footwear

Victoria, TX

$200 8.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 17.9% $36

Getting Around

Victoria, TX

$81 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 15.2% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Victoria, TX

$81 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 3% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Victoria, TX versus $2,526 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 34% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Victoria, TX versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $447 – making Victoria, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Victoria, TX

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

20:52 8:52 PM

Same time as Victoria, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

65,534

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Victoria, TX Chicago, IL 1,680 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Victoria, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,343 in Victoria, TX, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Victoria, TX comes out roughly 23% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,515 per month in Victoria, TX and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Victoria, TX, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $957 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Victoria, TX and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Victoria, TX – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Victoria, TX. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.