Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Apopka, FL: $2,644 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
128

Cost of Living Index in Apopka, FL
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Apopka, FL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Apopka, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,644

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL versus $2,644 in Apopka, FL.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Apopka, FL $2,644

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,518 in Chicago, IL versus $3,923 in Apopka, FL.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Apopka, FL $3,923

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,999 in Chicago, IL versus $5,201 in Apopka, FL.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Apopka, FL $5,201

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 15% more expensive than in Apopka, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 123% above, Apopka, FL 94% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.11 $20.11

2.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$74.7 $74.7

19.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.13 $12.13

8.74%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.38 $5.38

5.20%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.53 $3.53

-25.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.90 $2.90

-21.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.07 $7.07

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$9.15 $9.15

-3.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.21 $1.21

3.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.75 $3.75

-0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.47 $4.47

20.58%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$3.50 $3.50

35.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.86 $11.86

16.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.72 $10.72

34.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.45 $18.45

-0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.58 $5.58

-6.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.27 $3.27

24.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.92 $3.92

26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.62 $2.62

1.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.95 $2.95

-9.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.45 $2.45

-8.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.33 $2.33

34.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.24 $9.24

49.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.87 $14.87

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.66 $2.66

-4.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.75 $3.75

-6.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$58.0 $58.0

26.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.49 $2.49

27.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.46 $1.46

-4.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$20.29 $20.29

23.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.00 $1.00

20.00%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$32.2K $32.2K

8.69%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.6K $26.6K

0.45%

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

$194 $194

$199 $199

-2.40%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$74.0 $74.0

-6.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$77.5 $77.5

-20.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$35.54 $35.54

34.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$15.57 $15.57

14.39%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,460 $1,460

22.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$21.3K $21.3K

49.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$64.0 $64.0

4.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$41.54 $41.54

25.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$94.2 $94.2

7.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$119 $119

20.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,797 $1,797

40.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,274 $1,274

23.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,684 $2,684

76.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,219 $2,219

21.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$9,434 $9,434

-47.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.4

6.41%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Apopka, FL: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Apopka, FL

$1.3K 48.2% 19.3% $304

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Apopka, FL

$401 15.2% 10.5% $47

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Apopka, FL

$341 12.9% 1.1% $3.6

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Apopka, FL

$351 13.3% 7.7% $25

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Apopka, FL

$143 5.4% 12.5% $21

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Apopka, FL

$68 * 2.6% 27.4% $26

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Apopka, FL

$67 2.5% 20.2% $17

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 $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $1,797 in Apopka, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Apopka, FL pays 91% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89 in Chicago, IL vs $75 in Apopka, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $401 per month, with Apopka, FL cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Apopka, FL

🕒 Local time

23:29 11:29 PM

00:29 12:29 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

35,563

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Apopka, FL 1,570 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Apopka, FL

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

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

Apopka, FL is about 13% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, transport, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 48% lower in Chicago, IL. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,797 in Apopka, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Apopka, FL – a meal for two runs $75 versus $89 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,644 in Apopka, FL – Apopka, FL is about 13% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

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.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Apopka, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.