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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,616 in Apopka, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,853 in Apopka, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $5,091 in Apopka, FL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 17% more expensive than Apopka, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Apopka, FL 95% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$19.85 $19.85

4.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.6 $75.6

32.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.11 $10.11

17.31%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.15 $5.15

7.57%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.98 $2.98

2.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.28 $2.28

8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.91 $5.91

17.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.08 $8.08

0.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.11 $1.11

-6.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.89 $3.89

0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.72 $2.72

99.26%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.51 $4.51

-0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$11.53 $11.53

25.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$8.57 $8.57

77.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$14.26 $14.26

34.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.68 $4.68

15.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.99 $1.99

-15.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.54 $3.54

22.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.41 $3.41

32.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.66 $2.66

-3.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.22 $2.22

8.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.65 $1.65

58.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.31 $8.31

80.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.15 $15.15

-2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.08 $2.08

19.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.66 $2.66

38.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.04 $2.04

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$59.4 $59.4

27.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.97 $2.97

10.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.49 $1.49

-4.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$35.54 $35.54

-30.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

34.79%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

10.18%

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

$183 $183

$190 $190

-3.61%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$68.3 $68.3

-9.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$77.7 $77.7

-16.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.23 $43.23

75.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.56 $14.56

1.30%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$904 $904

127.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$9,890 $9,890

289.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$63.7 $63.7

0.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$38.24 $38.24

34.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$92.9 $92.9

4.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$112 $112

31.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,574 $1,574

49.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,333 $1,333

18.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,620 $2,620

79.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,184 $2,184

24.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$9,383 $9,383

-49.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 20, 2026

Last update for Apopka, FL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,574 in Apopka, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Apopka, FL pays 99% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $76 in Apopka, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $353 per month, with Apopka, 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

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

Apopka, FL is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Apopka, FL earns 99% less. 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,574 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 $76.0 versus $100 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,616 in Apopka, FL – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Apopka, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.