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: $3,431 in Boca Raton, FL versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,981 in Boca Raton, FL versus $4,695 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,532 in Boca Raton, FL versus $6,273 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Boca Raton, FL is roughly 10% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boca Raton, FL 151% above, Chicago, IL 128% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.59 $24.59

$19.92 $19.92

23.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$88.5 $88.5

11.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.41 $12.41

$12.94 $12.94

-4.10%

Cappuccino

$4.49 $4.49

$5.54 $5.54

-18.95%

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

$2.35 $2.35

$2.74 $2.74

-14.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.36 $2.36

-15.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.13 $6.13

$7.12 $7.12

-13.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$8.73 $8.73

-19.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.34 $1.34

-25.37%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.17 $4.17

3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.73 $5.73

18.50%

Eggs

$5.44 $5.44

$4.89 $4.89

11.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.58 $11.58

$14.77 $14.77

-21.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$14.85 $14.85

-4.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.98 $23.98

$19.61 $19.61

22.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.57 $5.57

-14.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

Oranges (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.17 $4.17

-8.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.86 $4.86

6.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$2.84 $2.84

13.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.80 $2.80

21.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.20 $2.20

-53.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.06 $3.06

-14.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.30 $10.30

$16.16 $16.16

-36.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.09 $14.09

$14.82 $14.82

-4.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.53 $2.53

-20.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$3.35 $3.35

-28.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.55 $2.55

-20.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.69 $35.69

$75.6 $75.6

-52.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.30 $3.30

24.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.36 $1.36

-42.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.55 $29.55

$25.12 $25.12

17.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.17 $1.17

-16.24%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$36.0K $36.0K

1.28%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.16%

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

$216 $216

$191 $191

12.96%

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

$54.5 $54.5

$67.9 $67.9

-19.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.0 $75.0

$61.7 $61.7

21.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.34 $36.34

$63.5 $63.5

-42.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.95 $19.95

$27.14 $27.14

-26.49%

Cinema Ticket

$15.14 $15.14

$18.02 $18.02

-15.98%

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

$1,073 $1,073

$1,522 $1,522

-29.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.3K $21.3K

$31.3K $31.3K

-32.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.20 $47.20

$63.7 $63.7

-25.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.36 $42.36

$55.3 $55.3

-23.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.8 $71.8

$100 $100

-28.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.4 $68.4

$153 $153

-55.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,014 $3,014

$2,406 $2,406

25.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 $2,031

$1,653 $1,653

22.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,938 $3,938

$4,577 $4,577

-13.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,366 $3,366

$2,771 $2,771

21.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,578 $8,578

$4,031 $4,031

112.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,464 $6,464

$2,745 $2,745

135.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,742 $5,742

$4,804 $4,804

19.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

6.38

-4.86%

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

Last update for Boca Raton, FL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,014 in Boca Raton, FL and $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boca Raton, FL pays 20% 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: $99.0 in Boca Raton, FL vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $451 vs $464, with Boca Raton, FL cheaper for home cooking.

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 20% higher in Boca Raton, FL, 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: $3,014 in Boca Raton, FL versus $2,406 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 $88.0 versus $99.0 in Boca Raton, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,431 per month in Boca Raton, FL versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL – a 10% 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 10% less than in Boca Raton, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.