Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 24.4% more expensive than Austin.
- Restaurants
-
pay 19.5% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 18.5% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 20.5% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 4.7% less in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 82.2% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 30.6% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 4.2% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, transportation, restaurants, groceries, and clothing in Chicago are more expensive than in Austin. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Austin, you would:
pay 19.5% more for restaurants
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$25.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00
|
$11.34
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.62
|
$3.02
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.21
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 18.5% more for groceries
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.60
|
$4.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.37
|
$7.87
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$3.94
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.37
|
$3.75
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.71
|
$6.63
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$2.44
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.69
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.94
|
$2.19
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$2.27
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.25
|
$1.16
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.25
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 20.5% more for transportation
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.04
|
$4.16
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$45.00
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,000.00
|
$31,965.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.55
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 4.7% less for housing
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$70.43
|
$58.52
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,280.66
|
$2,360.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,508.91
|
$1,512.92
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$134.36
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 82.2% more for childcare
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,465.00
|
$2,475.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$21,625.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 30.6% more for entertainment and sports
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.00
|
$7.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.31
|
$5.30
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.00
|
$17.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$54.50
|
$72.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 4.2% more for clothing
|
Austin
|
Chicago
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$63.62
|
$64.98
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$52.38
|
$51.67
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$89.78
|
$97.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$134.79
|
$146.00
|
|
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