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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,429 in Daytona Beach, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,669 in Daytona Beach, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,910 in Daytona Beach, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 26% more than Daytona Beach, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Daytona Beach, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Daytona Beach, FL by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$20.13 $20.13

0.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$74.4 $74.4

33.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$10.15 $10.15

20.49%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$6.03 $6.03

-7.13%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.19 $2.19

42.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.82 $1.82

33.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.83 $4.83

43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.93 $5.93

38.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.05 $1.05

2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.05 $3.05

30.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.72 $2.72

105.15%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.55 $4.55

-1.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$10.44 $10.44

38.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.71 $11.71

28.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$12.03 $12.03

60.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.73 $5.73

-6.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.74 $1.74

1.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.66 $4.66

-7.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.31 $3.31

33.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.38 $2.38

6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.58 $2.58

4.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.38 $1.38

80.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.72 $1.72

51.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.47 $8.47

74.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$11.15 $11.15

36.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.07 $2.07

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.69 $2.69

33.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.71 $1.71

48.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$39.47 $39.47

93.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.56 $3.56

-7.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.59 $1.59

-13.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$25.35 $25.35

0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.81 $0.81

34.57%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$25.1K $25.1K

25.89%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.3K $24.3K

9.23%

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

$186 $186

$159 $159

17.20%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$58.3 $58.3

7.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$82.7 $82.7

-19.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$29.30 $29.30

164.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$24.90 $24.90

-47.15%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$13.38 $13.38

10.16%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$613 $613

232.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.1K $23.1K

72.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$47.86 $47.86

33.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$52.1 $52.1

-1.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.3 $80.3

18.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$84.7 $84.7

70.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,407 $1,407

63.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,249 $1,249

26.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,471 $2,471

89.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,159 $2,159

26.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,571 $2,571

58.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,679 $2,679

0.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,295 $3,295

52.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.63

-0.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Daytona Beach, FL: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,407 in Daytona 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 52% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Daytona Beach, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $347 – making Daytona Beach, 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 Daytona Beach, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,429 in Daytona Beach, FL – roughly 26% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,643 in Daytona Beach, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 29% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $74.0 in Daytona Beach, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Daytona Beach, FL, where all-in costs run around $2,429, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Daytona Beach, FL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,429 in Daytona Beach, FL to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Daytona Beach, 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.