Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Chicago?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Chicago?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $50,000 in Chicago.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Chicago?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Chicago Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,440 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 2% higher in Chicago, IL. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,186

+9% in Chicago, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,258

+6% in Chicago, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,406

+0% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,554

+15% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$315,200

+14% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$75,134

+2% in Chicago, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$54,720

+6% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

35.7 yr

+2.1 yr in Chicago, IL

Homeownership

54.8%

45.5%

+9.3 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

43.3%

+10.2 pp in Chicago, IL

Avg Commute

26.7 min

33.5 min

+6.8 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

539.8

+10% in Chicago, IL

Property Crime

2,433.5

3,489.9

+43% in Chicago, IL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

52.7°F

+12.7°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

38.0 in

+1.6 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.82/gal

+22% in Chicago, IL

Area: Texas vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs CTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

18.9

+15% in Chicago, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$12.10

+51% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in Arlington, TX

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$1.79

+4% in Chicago, IL

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Chicago, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$6.97

+6% in Chicago, IL

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.15

+13% in Chicago, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.63

+3% in Chicago, IL

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / IL)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Arlington vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Chicago?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Chicago?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Chicago?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).