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

🙂 Solo nomad: Waco, TX is 17.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Waco, TX is 16.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.54 $19.54

$20.82 $20.82

-6.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.9 $61.9

$100 $100

-38.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$11.97 $11.97

-17.96%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$5.56 $5.56

0.54%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$3.11 $3.11

-28.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.42 $2.42

-39.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.86 $6.86

-12.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 $5.11

$8.45 $8.45

-39.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 $2.77

$4.15 $4.15

-33.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$5.52 $5.52

-52.54%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$4.65 $4.65

-6.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$14.33 $14.33

-17.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.59 $10.59

$14.88 $14.88

-28.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$19.34 $19.34

-38.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$5.17 $5.17

-22.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.71 $1.71

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.41 $4.41

-7.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$4.51 $4.51

-12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.53 $2.53

13.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.74 $2.74

5.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.43 $2.43

-35.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.7 $2.7

-32.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.88 $7.88

$15.19 $15.19

-48.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.79 $14.79

$16.42 $16.42

-9.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.35 $2.35

-25.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.7 $3.7

-7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.53 $2.53

-39.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.76 $39.76

$74.1 $74.1

-46.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.34 $3.34

32.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.42 $1.42

29.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.62 $34.62

$25.42 $25.42

36.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.08 $1.08

-26.85%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-22.24%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.18%

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

$174 $174

$188 $188

-7.69%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$63.7 $63.7

-5.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 $66.7

$65.2 $65.2

2.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.16 $27.16

$76.7 $76.7

-64.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 $9.53

$14.93 $14.93

-36.17%

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

$860 $860

$2,063 $2,063

-58.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-44.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$64.3 $64.3

-18.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.13 $45.13

$52.4 $52.4

-13.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 $77.6

$95.2 $95.2

-18.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$145 $145

-17.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,181 $1,181

$2,378 $2,378

-50.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,558 $1,558

$1,584 $1,584

-1.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,360 $2,360

$4,763 $4,763

-50.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 $2,194

$2,815 $2,815

-22.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,976 $1,976

$3,588 $3,588

-44.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 $1,954

$2,490 $2,490

-21.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,567 $3,567

$5,275 $5,275

-32.38%

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 Waco, TX: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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