Cost of living comparison

 Texas, USA
compared to
 Illinois, USA
Illinois vs. Texas Cost of Living Summary

Illinois is 3.9% more expensive than Texas.

Groceries
pay 2.8% less in Illinois
Transportation
pay 4.7% more in Illinois
Housing
pay 10.8% less in Illinois
Childcare
pay 20.0% more in Illinois
Entertainment and Sports
pay 12.8% more in Illinois
Clothing
pay 0.8% less in Illinois

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, and transportation in Illinois are more expensive than in Texas. Expenses including housing, groceries, clothing, and restaurants are lower in Illinois.

Illinois vs. Texas Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Illinois instead of Texas, you would:

pay (unknown) more for restaurants

 
Texas
Illinois
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.27
 
$16.03
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$9.75
 
$10.33
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.43
 
$2.49
 

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pay 2.8% less for groceries

 
Texas
Illinois
Bread
1 loaf
$3.09
 
$3.19
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.03
 
$5.63
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.67
 
$3.30
 

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pay 4.7% more for transportation

 
Texas
Illinois
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.93
 
$3.61
 
Monthly public transit pass $63.02
 
$72.95
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $32,552.44
 
$28,096.73
 

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pay 10.8% less for housing

 
Texas
Illinois
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$72.55
 
$65.96
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,374.92
 
$1,375.37
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,217.13
 
$1,146.99
 

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pay 20.0% more for childcare

 
Texas
Illinois
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,230.53
 
$1,394.11
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $19,254.84
 
$24,405.00
 

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pay 12.8% more for entertainment and sports

 
Texas
Illinois
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.20
 
$5.17
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.04
 
$4.81
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$8.80
 
$9.79
 

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pay 0.8% less for clothing

 
Texas
Illinois
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.31
 
$51.50
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$38.62
 
$41.59
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$87.49
 
$80.60
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: February 2025
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