Cost of living comparison
Chicago is 30.5% more expensive than Houston.
- Restaurants
-
pay 26.6% more in Chicago
- Groceries
-
pay 28.5% more in Chicago
- Transportation
-
pay 3.0% more in Chicago
- Housing
-
pay 12.4% more in Chicago
- Childcare
-
pay 76.8% more in Chicago
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 50.6% more in Chicago
- Clothing
-
pay 15.6% more in Chicago
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, restaurants, clothing, and housing in Chicago are more expensive than in Houston. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Chicago.
If you lived in Chicago instead of Houston, you would:
pay 26.6% more for restaurants
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$25.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.00
|
$11.34
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$3.02
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
|
$2.44
|
|
pay 28.5% more for groceries
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.97
|
$4.19
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.39
|
$7.87
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.43
|
$3.94
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.53
|
$3.75
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.15
|
$6.63
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$2.44
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
|
$0.90
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.72
|
$2.19
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$2.27
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
|
$1.16
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$1.37
|
|
pay 3.0% more for transportation
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.88
|
$4.16
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$75.00
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,278.39
|
$31,965.00
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.79
|
$14.43
|
|
pay 12.4% more for housing
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.71
|
$58.52
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,582.84
|
$2,360.96
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,189.12
|
$1,512.92
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.41
|
$126.63
|
|
pay 76.8% more for childcare
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,457.58
|
$2,475.00
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,000.00
|
$42,300.00
|
|
pay 50.6% more for entertainment and sports
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$7.50
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.27
|
$5.30
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.97
|
$17.00
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.65
|
$72.00
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 15.6% more for clothing
Houston
|
Chicago
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.14
|
$64.98
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.00
|
$51.67
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$103.28
|
$97.00
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.12
|
$146.00
|
|
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