Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Walton Beach, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Walton Beach, FL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 52.2% more expensive than Fort Walton Beach, FL without rent, and 39.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.1% more expensive than Fort Walton Beach, FL without rent, and 28.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$14.94 $14.94
39.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$83.5 $83.5
20.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.68 $10.68
12.08%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.5 $5.5
1.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.69 $2.69
15.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.09 $2.09
15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.1 $5.1
34.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.37 $6.37
32.65%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.03 $1.03
0.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.92 $2.92
42.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.35 $2.35
134.89%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.75 $2.75
69.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.25 $12.25
16.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.29 $11.29
31.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.71 $15.71
23.11%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.44 $3.44
50.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.75 $1.75
-2.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.53 $3.53
24.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.5 $3.5
28.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.41 $1.41
79.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.08 $2.08
31.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.66 $1.66
46.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.04 $2.04
32.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.81 $7.81
94.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$7.84 $7.84
109.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.17 $2.17
8.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.54 $4.54
-18.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$49.08 $49.08
51.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$5.85 $5.85
-42.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.57 $1.57
-9.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$45.59 $45.59
-44.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
23.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$152 $152
23.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$44.39 $44.39
43.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.8 $62.8
3.77%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$47.24 $47.24
62.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.57 $13.57
10.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$821 $821
151.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$50.9K $50.9K
-23.00%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$30.38 $30.38
111.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$20.3 $20.3
158.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$96.3 $96.3
-1.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$104 $104
39.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,631 $1,631
45.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,023 $1,023
54.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,776 $2,776
71.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,211 $2,211
27.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$4,002 $4,002
-10.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$5,052 $5,052
-50.71%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,715 $3,715
41.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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 Walton Beach, FL: October 27, 2025

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