Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

🇺🇸 Chicago vs 🇺🇸 Houston

2026

Houston is 14.7% cheaper
Category 🇺🇸 Chicago 🇺🇸 Houston Difference
Cost of Living 76.1 64.9 -14.7%
Rent 53.5 39.5 -26.2%
Groceries 88.6 71.3 -19.5%
Restaurants 75.6 70.5 -6.7%
Purchasing Power 141.4 160.0 +13.2%
Data verified Q1 2026 · Source: Numbeo cost-of-living indices (NYC = 100 baseline) · Indices reflect relative costs; absolute prices vary by neighbourhood.

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🇺🇸 Cost of Living in Chicago
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