Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Dallas, TX is 7.1% lower than in Chicago, IL (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Dallas, TX is 11.2% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Rent Prices in Dallas, TX are 18.0% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Restaurant Prices in Dallas, TX are 11.7% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Groceries Prices in Dallas, TX are 9.8% lower than in Chicago, IL | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Dallas, TX is 2.7% higher than in Chicago, IL | |
Restaurants | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 20.75 $ | 19.00 $ | -8.4 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 100.00 $ | 75.00 $ | -25.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 12.00 $ | 11.65 $ | -2.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 7.00 $ | 7.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 8.62 $ | 7.50 $ | -13.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.52 $ | 5.65 $ | +2.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.01 $ | 2.73 $ | -9.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.36 $ | 2.21 $ | -6.2 % |
Markets | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.10 $ | 0.98 $ | -11.1 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.66 $ | 3.30 $ | -9.8 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.43 $ | 2.19 $ | -9.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 5.09 $ | 4.74 $ | -6.8 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 6.57 $ | 5.96 $ | -9.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 6.47 $ | 6.34 $ | -1.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 8.73 $ | 8.42 $ | -3.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.37 $ | 2.34 $ | -1.3 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.82 $ | 0.72 $ | -12.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.86 $ | 1.92 $ | +3.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.09 $ | 1.67 $ | -20.0 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.18 $ | 1.03 $ | -12.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.26 $ | 1.44 $ | +14.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.42 $ | 1.84 $ | -24.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.67 $ | 2.48 $ | -6.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 16.49 $ | 15.00 $ | -9.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.74 $ | 4.04 $ | +47.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.51 $ | 5.09 $ | +45.1 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 17.00 $ | 10.00 $ | -41.2 % |
Transportation | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.50 $ | 3.00 $ | +20.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 75.00 $ | 94.00 $ | +25.3 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 3.25 $ | 3.00 $ | -7.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.25 $ | 2.80 $ | +24.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 25.00 $ | 24.00 $ | -4.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.00 $ | 0.80 $ | -20.2 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 34,000.00 $ | 36,755.39 $ | +8.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 26,598.85 $ | 29,292.02 $ | +10.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 183.77 $ | 217.40 $ | +18.3 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 70.09 $ | 67.62 $ | -3.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 68.87 $ | 70.31 $ | +2.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 72.12 $ | 47.31 $ | -34.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 21.01 $ | 18.60 $ | -11.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 17.00 $ | 14.75 $ | -13.2 % |
Childcare | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,050.00 $ | 1,151.88 $ | -43.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 38,600.00 $ | 24,380.00 $ | -36.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 65.50 $ | 56.31 $ | -14.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 47.31 $ | 49.38 $ | +4.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 99.23 $ | 110.44 $ | +11.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 142.63 $ | 129.62 $ | -9.1 % |
Rent Per Month | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,393.00 $ | 1,660.96 $ | -30.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,683.48 $ | 1,509.57 $ | -10.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 4,465.91 $ | 3,479.00 $ | -22.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,821.74 $ | 2,672.67 $ | -5.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 336.95 $ | 339.57 $ | +0.8 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 234.11 $ | 229.15 $ | -2.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | Chicago, IL Edit |
Dallas, TX Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 5,244.20 $ | 4,785.76 $ | -8.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.77 | 6.42 | -5.3 % |
| Last update: | 11 November 2025 | 11 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 249 | 177 |
Moving to Chicago, IL? Explore:
Moving to Dallas, TX? Explore:
Cities near Chicago, IL: | Cost of Living in Oak Park, Illinois | 9.14 miles |
| Cost of Living in Evanston, Illinois | 14.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in La Grange Park, Illinois | 15.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Franklin Park, Illinois | 16.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Des Plaines, Illinois | 20.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Addison, Illinois | 22.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in East Chicago, Indiana | 23.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wheaton, Illinois | 25.81 miles |
| Cost of Living in Arlington Heights, Illinois | 27.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bolingbrook, Illinois | 29.21 miles |
Cities near Dallas, TX: | Cost of Living in Garland, Texas | 13.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in De Soto, Texas | 16.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in DeSoto, Texas | 16.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Plano, Texas | 18.70 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fort Worth, Texas | 36.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sherman, Texas | 64.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Waco, Texas | 100.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Longview, Texas | 126.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Austin, Texas | 185.43 miles |
| Cost of Living in Shreveport, Louisiana | 186.42 miles |