Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Coral, FL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Cape Coral, FL and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,527 per month in Cape Coral, FL vs $3,117 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,991 per month in Cape Coral, FL vs $4,695 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,455 per month in Cape Coral, FL vs $6,273 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Cape Coral, FL is about 19% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cape Coral, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Cape Coral, FL by 85%, Chicago, IL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.46 $30.46

$19.92 $19.92

52.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.9 $98.9

$88.5 $88.5

11.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 $9.93

$12.94 $12.94

-23.26%

Cappuccino

$5.31 $5.31

$5.54 $5.54

-4.15%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$2.74 $2.74

10.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.36 $2.36

-14.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$7.12 $7.12

-30.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.46 $6.46

$8.73 $8.73

-26.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.34 $1.34

-19.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 $3.26

$4.17 $4.17

-21.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$5.73 $5.73

-44.33%

Eggs

$3.40 $3.40

$4.89 $4.89

-30.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 $9.44

$14.77 $14.77

-36.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$14.85 $14.85

-13.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.27 $13.27

$19.61 $19.61

-32.33%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.57 $5.57

-6.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.92 $1.92

-2.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$4.17 $4.17

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$4.86 $4.86

-3.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.84 $2.84

0.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.80 $2.80

17.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.20 $2.20

17.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$3.06 $3.06

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 $7.76

$16.16 $16.16

-51.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.21 $11.21

$14.82 $14.82

-24.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.53 $2.53

-10.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$3.35 $3.35

-37.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.53 $35.53

$75.6 $75.6

-52.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.30 $3.30

24.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.36 $1.36

38.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.63 $23.63

$25.12 $25.12

-5.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.17 $1.17

-20.51%

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

$33.2K $33.2K

$36.0K $36.0K

-7.87%

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

$20.0K $20.0K

$26.2K $26.2K

-23.58%

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

$207 $207

$191 $191

8.13%

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

$58.4 $58.4

$67.9 $67.9

-13.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.0 $82.0

$61.7 $61.7

32.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.61 $32.61

$63.5 $63.5

-48.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$12.43 $12.43

$18.02 $18.02

-31.02%

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

$859 $859

$1,522 $1,522

-43.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.4K $42.4K

$31.3K $31.3K

35.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.04 $46.04

$63.7 $63.7

-27.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 $35.35

$55.3 $55.3

-36.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.5 $86.5

$100 $100

-13.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$153 $153

-16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,816 $1,816

$2,406 $2,406

-24.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 $1,228

$1,653 $1,653

-25.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,575 $2,575

$4,577 $4,577

-43.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 $2,497

$2,771 $2,771

-9.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 $2,759

$4,031 $4,031

-31.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,774 $2,774

$2,745 $2,745

1.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,833 $3,833

$4,804 $4,804

-20.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

6.38

-4.23%

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

Last update for Cape Coral, FL: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,816 in Cape Coral, FL versus $2,406 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Cape Coral, FL versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $365 in Cape Coral, FL vs $464 in Chicago, IL – so Cape Coral, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cape Coral, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Cape Coral, FL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,791 per month in Cape Coral, FL and $4,676 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Coral, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Cape Coral, FL and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,527 in Cape Coral, FL and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,527 in Cape Coral, FL and $3,117 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cape Coral, FL costs $2,527 versus $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Cape Coral, FL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.