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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 7% less than in Boca Raton, FL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$22.37 $22.37

-9.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$86.0 $86.0

18.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$12.17 $12.17

-1.56%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$4.40 $4.40

29.55%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.61 $2.61

14.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.13 $2.13

15.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.17 $6.17

11.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.89 $6.89

17.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.11 $1.11

-7.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.05 $4.05

-2.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.01 $4.01

35.16%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.26 $4.26

5.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.33 $11.33

28.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.26 $11.26

32.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$15.10 $15.10

25.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.85 $4.85

11.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.58 $1.58

12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.51 $4.51

-3.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$5.34 $5.34

-15.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.46 $4.46

-43.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.92 $3.92

-28.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.35 $2.35

6.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.70 $2.70

-1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$5.71 $5.71

160.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$14.06 $14.06

8.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.91 $1.91

28.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.07 $2.07

70.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.01 $2.01

27.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$70.9 $70.9

4.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.03 $4.03

-20.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.76 $0.76

85.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$29.73 $29.73

-14.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.87 $0.87

19.54%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

28.88%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

9.70%

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

$184 $184

$250 $250

-26.53%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$47.66 $47.66

32.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$69.2 $69.2

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$35.61 $35.61

113.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

$45.77 $45.77

-71.47%

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.26 $14.26

6.94%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,249 $1,249

67.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.7K $39.7K

-1.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$31.52 $31.52

103.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$41.89 $41.89

21.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$65.9 $65.9

47.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$62.1 $62.1

139.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$2,717 $2,717

-13.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,927 $1,927

-18.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$5,157 $5,157

-8.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$3,582 $3,582

-21.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$8,668 $8,668

-55.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$6,464 $6,464

-59.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$5,946 $5,946

-19.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.39

3.29%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,341 in Chicago, IL and $2,717 in Boca Raton, FL. 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: $102 in Chicago, IL vs $86.0 in Boca Raton, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $403 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

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

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

On paper, Boca Raton, FL earns 25% 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: $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $2,717 in Boca Raton, FL. 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 $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,248 in Boca Raton, FL – 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.