Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Boca Raton, FL and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,248 in Boca Raton, FL versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,844 in Boca Raton, FL versus $4,593 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,441 in Boca Raton, FL versus $6,177 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Boca Raton, FL is roughly 8% more expensive than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boca Raton, FL 143% above, Chicago, IL 125% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.37 $22.37

$20.35 $20.35

9.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$102 $102

-15.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 $12.17

$11.98 $11.98

1.59%

Cappuccino

$4.40 $4.40

$5.70 $5.70

-22.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.00 $3.00

-13.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.46 $2.46

-13.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.87 $6.87

-10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.89 $6.89

$8.09 $8.09

-14.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.03 $1.03

7.77%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.95 $3.95

2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$5.42 $5.42

-26.01%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.50 $4.50

-5.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.33 $11.33

$14.53 $14.53

-22.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.26 $11.26

$14.89 $14.89

-24.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 $15.10

$18.98 $18.98

-20.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$5.39 $5.39

-10.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.77 $1.77

-10.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.35 $4.35

3.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$4.53 $4.53

17.88%

Potato (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.53 $2.53

76.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$2.81 $2.81

39.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.51 $2.51

-6.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.67 $2.67

1.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 $5.71

$14.88 $14.88

-61.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.06 $14.06

$15.22 $15.22

-7.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.46 $2.46

-22.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.53 $3.53

-41.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.56 $2.56

-21.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$70.9 $70.9

$74.3 $74.3

-4.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.19 $3.19

26.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.41 $1.41

-46.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.73 $29.73

$25.49 $25.49

16.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.04 $1.04

-16.35%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K $25.0K

$32.2K $32.2K

-22.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K $24.4K

$26.8K $26.8K

-8.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$250 $250

$184 $184

36.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.66 $47.66

$63.1 $63.1

-24.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$66.4 $66.4

4.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.61 $35.61

$75.9 $75.9

-53.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.77 $45.77

$13.06 $13.06

250.46%

Cinema Ticket

$14.26 $14.26

$15.25 $15.25

-6.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,249 $1,249

$2,090 $2,090

-40.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.7K $39.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.52 $31.52

$64.2 $64.2

-50.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.89 $41.89

$51.0 $51.0

-17.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 $65.9

$97.2 $97.2

-32.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.1 $62.1

$149 $149

-58.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$2,341 $2,341

16.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 $1,927

$1,572 $1,572

22.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,157 $5,157

$4,741 $4,741

8.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,582 $3,582

$2,819 $2,819

27.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,668 $8,668

$3,900 $3,900

122.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,638 $2,638

145.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,946 $5,946

$4,769 $4,769

24.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.6

-3.18%

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

Last update for Boca Raton, FL: April 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,717 in Boca Raton, FL and $2,341 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boca Raton, FL pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL vs $102 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $447 per month, with Boca Raton, FL cheaper across the board.

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

Boca Raton, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boca Raton, FL and Chicago, IL differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($3,248 vs $3,009 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Boca Raton, FL pays 25% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,717 in Boca Raton, FL versus $2,341 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $102 versus $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,248 per month in Boca Raton, FL versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boca Raton, FL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Boca Raton, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.