Cost of living comparison
Houston is 2.8% more expensive than Illinois.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.3% more in Houston
- Groceries
-
pay 0.7% less in Houston
- Transportation
-
pay 4.1% more in Houston
- Housing
-
pay 7.0% more in Houston
- Childcare
-
pay 0.6% less in Houston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.4% less in Houston
- Clothing
-
pay 9.2% more in Houston
The cost of clothing, housing, transportation, and restaurants in Houston are more expensive than in Illinois. Expenses including entertainment and sports, groceries, and childcare are lower in Houston.
If you lived in Houston instead of Illinois, you would:
pay 2.3% more for restaurants
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.03
|
$18.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.33
|
$9.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.49
|
$2.53
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.85
|
$2.00
|
|
pay 0.7% less for groceries
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.19
|
$2.97
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.63
|
$6.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.30
|
$3.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.92
|
$3.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.08
|
$5.15
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$1.99
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.58
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.05
|
$1.72
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.82
|
$1.28
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
|
$1.30
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.20
|
$1.07
|
|
pay 4.1% more for transportation
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$2.88
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$72.95
|
$75.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,096.73
|
$36,278.39
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.96
|
$18.79
|
|
pay 7.0% more for housing
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.96
|
$66.71
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,375.37
|
$1,582.84
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,146.99
|
$1,189.12
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$137.37
|
$148.41
|
|
pay 0.6% less for childcare
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,394.11
|
$1,457.58
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,405.00
|
$23,000.00
|
|
pay 1.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.17
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.81
|
$5.27
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.79
|
$9.97
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$60.87
|
$39.65
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.50
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 9.2% more for clothing
|
Illinois
|
Houston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$51.50
|
$47.14
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.59
|
$43.00
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$80.60
|
$103.28
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.89
|
$132.12
|
|
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