Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bonita Springs, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bonita Springs, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,672 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,882 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $5,092 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 14% more expensive than Bonita Springs, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Bonita Springs, FL 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$22.42 $22.42

-7.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$91.5 $91.5

9.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$13.22 $13.22

-10.29%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.30 $5.30

4.53%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.13 $3.13

-2.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.18 $2.18

13.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.77 $6.77

2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$7.79 $7.79

4.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.13 $1.13

-7.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.25 $4.25

-8.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.31 $5.31

2.07%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.40 $4.40

1.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$13.56 $13.56

7.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$13.96 $13.96

8.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$16.63 $16.63

15.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.27 $6.27

-14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.68 $1.68

0.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.49 $3.49

23.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.29 $4.29

5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.66 $2.66

-3.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.23 $3.23

-16.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.30 $2.30

4.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.98 $1.98

32.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$5.59 $5.59

168.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.14 $15.14

-2.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.12 $2.12

16.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.17 $2.17

70.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.98 $1.98

28.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.45 $2.45

34.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.28 $1.28

11.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.54 $29.54

-16.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$30.1K $30.1K

5.43%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.98%

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

$183 $183

$160 $160

14.21%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$68.4 $68.4

-9.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$63.8 $63.8

1.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$44.83 $44.83

69.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$15.24 $15.24

-3.22%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$847 $847

142.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$25.2K $25.2K

52.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$52.8 $52.8

21.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$53.9 $53.9

-4.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$79.4 $79.4

22.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$98.0 $98.0

50.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$2,468 $2,468

-4.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,371 $1,371

15.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,523 $2,523

86.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,241 $2,241

21.16%

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

$6,373 $6,373

-25.88%

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 Bonita Springs, FL: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $2,468 in Bonita Springs, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bonita Springs, FL pays 35% 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 $91 in Bonita Springs, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $422 per month, with Bonita Springs, 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 Bonita Springs, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bonita Springs, FL wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Chicago, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bonita Springs, FL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Bonita Springs, FL earns 35% 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 $2,468 in Bonita Springs, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,672 in Bonita Springs, FL – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Bonita Springs, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bonita Springs, FL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,672 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bonita Springs, FL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Bonita Springs, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.