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: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,596 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,824 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $5,052 in Bonita Springs, FL.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 23% more expensive than in Bonita Springs, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Bonita Springs, FL 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.82 $19.82

2.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$74.5 $74.5

19.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$12.08 $12.08

8.94%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$6.09 $6.09

-5.25%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.06 $2.06

27.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.98 $1.98

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.86 $5.86

20.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.82 $7.82

17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.25 $1.25

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.89 $3.89

4.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.81 $4.81

18.30%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.56 $3.56

36.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.46 $13.46

12.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$11.22 $11.22

32.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$16.81 $16.81

14.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.48 $5.48

3.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.77 $1.77

9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.42 $3.42

19.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.92 $3.92

30.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.57 $2.57

13.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.06 $3.06

-9.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.44 $2.44

-5.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.32 $2.32

31.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$8.94 $8.94

78.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.11 $15.11

-0.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.68 $2.68

-5.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$5.28 $5.28

-34.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.74 $1.74

45.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.51 $2.51

30.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.51 $1.51

-9.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$20.38 $20.38

10.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.80 $0.80

52.50%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.1K $37.1K

-2.78%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.6K $27.6K

-5.86%

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

$188 $188

$160 $160

17.65%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$69.8 $69.8

-1.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$74.7 $74.7

-14.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$41.45 $41.45

53.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$15.01 $15.01

19.25%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,430 $1,430

6.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$22.4K $22.4K

42.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$55.1 $55.1

12.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$43.27 $43.27

30.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$79.0 $79.0

27.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$124 $124

25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,586 $1,586

47.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,375 $1,375

23.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,468 $2,468

85.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,314 $2,314

21.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,936 $2,936

40.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,356 $2,356

16.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$6,277 $6,277

-22.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.06

5.28%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bonita Springs, FL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,586 in Bonita Springs, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bonita Springs, FL pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Bonita Springs, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $409 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 23% 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, salaries run 28% lower in Bonita Springs, FL. 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: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,586 in Bonita Springs, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,596 in Bonita Springs, FL – a 23% 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 $2,596 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 23% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.