Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Boynton Beach, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,661 in Boynton Beach, FL, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 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
174

Cost of Living Index in Boynton Beach, FL
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Boynton Beach, FL Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Boynton Beach, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,661

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Boynton Beach, 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 Boynton Beach, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,661 in Boynton Beach, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Boynton Beach, FL $3,661

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,901 in Boynton Beach, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Boynton Beach, FL $4,901

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,142 in Boynton Beach, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Boynton Beach, FL $6,142

Chicago, IL is about 17% cheaper than Boynton Beach, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Boynton Beach, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Boynton Beach, FL by 169%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$25.20 $25.20

-17.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$119 $119

-25.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.91 $12.91

2.17%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.97 $5.97

-5.19%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.02 $3.02

-12.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.60 $2.60

-12.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$7.72 $7.72

-11.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.23 $8.23

7.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.18 $1.18

5.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.42 $4.42

-15.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.33 $6.33

-14.85%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$5.15 $5.15

-7.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.44 $11.44

20.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$14.34 $14.34

0.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$23.74 $23.74

-22.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.08 $5.08

2.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.88 $1.88

5.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.66 $3.66

10.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.44 $4.44

11.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.96 $2.96

-9.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.14 $3.14

-15.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.32 $2.32

-3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.75 $1.75

78.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.79 $9.79

41.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$15.05 $15.05

-1.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.93 $1.93

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.45 $2.45

43.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$5.06 $5.06

-51.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$156 $156

-52.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.92 $2.92

8.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.77 $0.77

80.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$24.18 $24.18

3.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$34.4K $34.4K

1.85%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.23%

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

$194 $194

$216 $216

-10.00%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$66.2 $66.2

4.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$72.9 $72.9

-15.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$29.60 $29.60

61.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$15.24 $15.24

16.86%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,212 $1,212

48.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$20.9K $20.9K

52.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$46.87 $46.87

42.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$57.4 $57.4

-9.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$90.6 $90.6

12.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$67.5 $67.5

112.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,598 $2,598

-2.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,112 $2,112

-25.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$3,588 $3,588

32.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,550 $2,550

5.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$3,167 $3,167

32.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$3,711 $3,711

32.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.53

4.29%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Boynton Beach, FL: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Boynton Beach, FL

$2.1K 57.7% 33.9% $534

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Boynton Beach, FL

$443 12.1% 1% $4.5

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Boynton Beach, FL

$389 10.6% 12.9% $45

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Boynton Beach, FL

$355 9.7% 9.1% $30

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Boynton Beach, FL

$118 3.2% 28% $46

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Boynton Beach, FL

$183 5% 95.8% $89

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Boynton Beach, FL

$60 1.6% 28.1% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $2,598 in Boynton Beach, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 33% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $119 in Boynton Beach, FL. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $443 in Boynton Beach, FL – so Boynton Beach, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Boynton Beach, FL

🕒 Local time

13:49 1:49 PM

14:49 2:49 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

68,217

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Boynton Beach, FL 1,840 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Boynton Beach, 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 Boynton Beach, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Boynton Beach, FL is pricier by about 21%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,491 in Boynton Beach, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,526 in Chicago, IL and $2,598 in Boynton Beach, FL. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,661 in Boynton Beach, FL. That’s a gap of about 21%.

Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,212 in Boynton Beach, FL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,661 in Boynton Beach, FL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,661 in Boynton Beach, FL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.