Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Apopka, FL and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Apopka, FL: $2,647 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Apopka, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,647
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Apopka, FL and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Apopka, FL and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,647 in Apopka, FL versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL.

  • Apopka, FL $2,647
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,927 in Apopka, FL versus $4,627 in Chicago, IL.

  • Apopka, FL $3,927
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,207 in Apopka, FL versus $6,115 in Chicago, IL.

  • Apopka, FL $5,207
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Living in Apopka, FL costs roughly 16% less than in Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Apopka, FL 95% above, Chicago, IL 132% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.27 $20.27
$20.65 $20.65
-1.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9 $74.9
$90.2 $90.2
-17.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.08 $12.08
$12.94 $12.94
-6.65%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$5.60 $5.60
-6.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.64 $2.64
32.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.27 $2.27
23.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.84 $6.84
$6.98 $6.98
-2.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.25 $9.25
$8.83 $8.83
4.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.27 $1.27
-8.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.80 $3.80
2.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$5.30 $5.30
-13.96%
Eggs
$3.54 $3.54
$4.76 $4.76
-25.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.15 $12.15
$13.96 $13.96
-12.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.97 $10.97
$14.61 $14.61
-24.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.66 $18.66
$18.77 $18.77
-0.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$5.19 $5.19
2.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.98 $1.98
1.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.93 $3.93
-16.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$4.96 $4.96
-23.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.76 $2.76
-5.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.76 $2.76
5.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.22 $2.22
9.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.98 $2.98
-20.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.07 $9.07
$14.02 $14.02
-35.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$15.28 $15.28
-2.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.58 $2.58
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 $3.74
$3.50 $3.50
6.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.47 $2.47
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.8 $59.8
$74.8 $74.8
-20.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.34 $3.34
-24.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.43 $1.43
6.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.22 $20.22
$24.32 $24.32
-16.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.26 $1.26
-21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K $32.1K
$35.0K $35.0K
-8.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.1K $26.1K
1.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$193 $193
1.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.7 $73.7
$68.3 $68.3
7.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.2 $76.2
$61.3 $61.3
24.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.59 $35.59
$54.1 $54.1
-34.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.56 $16.56
$17.74 $17.74
-6.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$1,652 $1,652
-11.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
$31.1K $31.1K
-31.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$66.1 $66.1
-4.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.98 $40.98
$51.2 $51.2
-20.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 $93.1
$100 $100
-7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$141 $141
-14.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,799 $1,799
$2,446 $2,446
-26.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 $1,279
$1,678 $1,678
-23.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,659 $2,659
$4,717 $4,717
-43.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,221 $2,221
$2,795 $2,795
-20.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,105 $4,105
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,650 $2,650
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Apopka, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,460 $9,460
$4,866 $4,866
94.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
6.81
-6.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Apopka, FL: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Apopka, FL
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 31.2% $399
Groceries & Markets
Apopka, FL
$403
Chicago, IL
$449 11.5% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Apopka, FL
$345
Chicago, IL
$322 6.5% $22
Eating Out
Apopka, FL
$339
Chicago, IL
$343 1.3% $4.5
Clothing & Footwear
Apopka, FL
$143
Chicago, IL
$161 12.7% $18
Getting Around
Apopka, FL
$70 *
Chicago, IL
$95 36% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Apopka, FL
$69
Chicago, IL
$90 30.4% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,799 in Apopka, FL and $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Apopka, FL pays 94% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $75.0 in Apopka, FL vs $90.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $449 per month, with Apopka, FL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Apopka, FL
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
05:32 5:32 AM
04:32 4:32 AM
1 h behind Apopka, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
35,563
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Apopka, FL Chicago, IL 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Apopka, FL
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Apopka, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago, IL cheaper than Apopka, FL?
Apopka, FL is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Apopka, FL or Chicago, IL?
Average pay runs 94% higher in Apopka, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Apopka, FL and Chicago, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,799 in Apopka, FL versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Apopka, FL or in Chicago, IL?
Dining out is cheaper in Apopka, FL – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Apopka, FL and in Chicago, IL?
All in, you'll spend $2,647 per month in Apopka, FL versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Apopka, FL or in Chicago, IL?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Apopka, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is Apopka, FL or Chicago, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Apopka, FL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Apopka, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Apopka, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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