Cost of living comparison
Illinois is 0.8% cheaper than Houston.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.3% less in Illinois
- Groceries
-
pay 3.8% more in Illinois
- Transportation
-
pay 1.2% less in Illinois
- Housing
-
pay 6.3% less in Illinois
- Childcare
-
pay 0.8% more in Illinois
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.0% more in Illinois
- Clothing
-
pay 7.1% less in Illinois
The cost of entertainment and sports, groceries, and childcare in Illinois are more expensive than in Houston. Expenses including clothing, housing, restaurants, and transportation are lower in Illinois.
If you lived in Illinois instead of Houston, you would:
pay 1.3% less for restaurants
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.00
|
$16.03
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.00
|
$10.33
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.53
|
$2.49
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.00
|
$1.85
|
|
pay 3.8% more for groceries
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.97
|
$3.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.39
|
$5.63
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.43
|
$3.30
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.53
|
$2.92
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.15
|
$5.08
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.99
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58
|
$0.66
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.72
|
$2.05
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.28
|
$1.82
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
|
$0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.07
|
$1.20
|
|
pay 1.2% less for transportation
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$2.88
|
$3.61
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$72.95
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,278.39
|
$28,096.73
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.79
|
$17.96
|
|
pay 6.3% less for housing
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.71
|
$65.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,582.84
|
$1,375.37
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,189.12
|
$1,146.99
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.41
|
$137.37
|
|
pay 0.8% more for childcare
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,457.58
|
$1,394.11
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$23,000.00
|
$24,405.00
|
|
pay 6.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.00
|
$5.17
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.27
|
$4.81
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.97
|
$9.79
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$39.65
|
$60.87
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$12.50
|
|
pay 7.1% less for clothing
|
Houston
|
Illinois
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.14
|
$51.50
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$43.00
|
$41.59
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$103.28
|
$80.60
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.12
|
$115.89
|
|
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