Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cape Coral, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cape Coral, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,695 in Cape Coral, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,869 in Cape Coral, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,042 in Cape Coral, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Cape Coral, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Cape Coral, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Cape Coral, FL by 101%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$19.74 $19.74

3.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$81.5 $81.5

24.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$10.11 $10.11

18.50%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$4.80 $4.80

18.75%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.62 $2.62

14.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.02 $2.02

21.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.96 $4.96

38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.87 $6.87

17.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.10 $1.10

-6.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.32 $3.32

18.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.80 $4.80

12.92%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.18 $3.18

41.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$11.27 $11.27

28.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.60 $11.60

28.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$13.25 $13.25

43.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.44 $5.44

-0.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.66 $1.66

6.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.19 $4.19

3.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.02 $4.02

12.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.66 $3.66

-30.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.46 $3.46

-18.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.44 $2.44

2.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.56 $2.56

4.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.90 $7.90

88.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$10.59 $10.59

43.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.20 $2.20

11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$3.41 $3.41

3.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.02 $2.02

26.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$35.39 $35.39

109.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.53 $2.53

26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.47 $1.47

-4.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$29.73 $29.73

-14.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.89 $0.89

16.85%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$33.9K $33.9K

-5.00%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$19.9K $19.9K

34.49%

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

$184 $184

$236 $236

-22.15%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$55.8 $55.8

13.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$70.6 $70.6

-5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$30.40 $30.40

149.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$12.67 $12.67

20.36%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$834 $834

150.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.0K $14.0K

179.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$44.51 $44.51

44.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$35.47 $35.47

43.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$82.1 $82.1

18.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$123 $123

21.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,835 $1,835

27.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,376 $1,376

14.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,583 $2,583

83.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$2,342 $2,342

20.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,793 $2,793

39.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$2,794 $2,794

-5.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,815 $3,815

25.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.38

3.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Cape Coral, FL: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,835 in Cape Coral, 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 25% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $81.0 in Cape Coral, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $379 – making Cape Coral, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cape Coral, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Cape Coral, FL, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,043 in Cape Coral, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cape Coral, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $81.0 in Cape Coral, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,695 in Cape Coral, FL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,695 in Cape Coral, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cape Coral, FL costs $2,695 versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Cape Coral, FL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.