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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,708 in Fort Pierce, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,941 in Fort Pierce, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,174 in Fort Pierce, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 13% more than Fort Pierce, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Fort Pierce, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Fort Pierce, FL by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.65 $19.65

2.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$60.4 $60.4

64.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.46 $11.46

6.72%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.02 $5.02

11.55%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.37 $2.37

31.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.84 $1.84

32.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.97 $5.97

16.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.15 $7.15

14.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.86 $2.86

38.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.11 $5.11

9.20%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.39 $4.39

1.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$11.52 $11.52

25.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.43 $11.43

31.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.59 $13.59

42.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$6.42 $6.42

-16.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.01 $2.01

-12.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.51 $5.51

-21.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.29 $3.29

34.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.66 $2.66

-4.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.31 $2.31

16.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.75 $1.75

42.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.62 $1.62

60.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.53 $8.53

73.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$9.59 $9.59

58.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.22 $2.22

11.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.65 $2.65

35.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.03 $2.03

25.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.94 $2.94

12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.59 $1.59

-13.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$34.38 $34.38

-26.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$17.8K $17.8K

77.63%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.20%

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

$186 $186

$128 $128

45.02%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$67.5 $67.5

-6.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$79.2 $79.2

-16.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$47.93 $47.93

61.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$13.96 $13.96

5.59%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,170 $1,170

74.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$9,795 $9,795

306.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$42.61 $42.61

49.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$37.38 $37.38

36.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$73.3 $73.3

29.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$84.5 $84.5

70.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,757 $1,757

31.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,595 $1,595

-1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,016 $3,016

55.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,676 $2,676

2.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$3,238 $3,238

25.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,157 $2,157

24.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$2,592 $2,592

93.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.3

4.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Fort Pierce, FL: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,757 in Fort Pierce, 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 94% 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 $60.0 in Fort Pierce, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $365 – making Fort Pierce, 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 Fort Pierce, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,708 in Fort Pierce, FL – roughly 13% 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 $4,062 in Fort Pierce, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fort Pierce, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $60.0 in Fort Pierce, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,708 in Fort Pierce, 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 $2,708 in Fort Pierce, FL to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Fort Pierce, 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.