Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Lauderdale, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Lauderdale, FL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 8.8% more expensive than Fort Lauderdale, FL without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6% more expensive than Fort Lauderdale, FL without rent, and 9.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$21.42 $21.42

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$111 $111

-9.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.38 $10.38

15.32%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.15 $5.15

7.96%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.75 $2.75

13.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.14 $2.14

13.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.11 $6.11

12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.49 $6.49

30.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4 $4

3.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.43 $3.43

60.93%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.87 $3.87

20.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11.59 $11.59

23.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.13 $9.13

62.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.87 $18.87

2.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.67 $5.67

-8.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.27 $4.27

3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.32 $5.32

-15.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.51 $3.51

-27.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.53 $3.53

-22.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.28 $2.28

6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.09 $2.09

29.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.13 $10.13

49.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.17 $12.17

34.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.7 $1.7

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.75 $2.75

34.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.31 $2.31

9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$72.2 $72.2

2.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.54 $4.54

-26.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.5 $1.5

-5.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.37 $22.37

13.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$26K $26K

24.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.3K $24.3K

7.74%

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

$188 $188

$169 $169

11.47%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$58.5 $58.5

8.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.5 $69.5

-6.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$74.4 $74.4

3.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$13.5 $13.5

-3.48%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.9 $14.9

0.20%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$827 $827

149.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16.2K $16.2K

142.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$47.2 $47.2

36.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$44.94 $44.94

16.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$88.7 $88.7

7.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$95.2 $95.2

51.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,317 $2,317

2.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,942 $1,942

-18.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,797 $3,797

25.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,697 $3,697

-23.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,518 $4,518

-20.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,818 $3,818

-34.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,719 $4,719

11.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: October 29, 2025

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