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 20.6% more expensive than Fort Walton Beach, FL without rent, and 41% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.7% more expensive than Fort Walton Beach, FL without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$15.22 $15.22
32.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$84.4 $84.4
20.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.66 $10.66
12.76%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.23 $5.23
7.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.82 $2.82
6.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.02 $2.02
16.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$4.87 $4.87
43.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.54 $6.54
29.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.98 $0.98
11.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.87 $2.87
43.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$2.38 $2.38
134.03%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$2.72 $2.72
65.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$12.04 $12.04
19.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$11.26 $11.26
33.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$15.56 $15.56
21.98%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$3.62 $3.62
43.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.75 $1.75
1.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.43 $3.43
26.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.49 $3.49
29.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.39 $1.39
83.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.06 $2.06
31.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.62 $1.62
53.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.03 $2.03
29.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$7.77 $7.77
94.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$8.30 $8.30
79.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.15 $2.15
14.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.56 $4.56
-19.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.97 $1.97
30.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$50.4 $50.4
47.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$5.98 $5.98
-44.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.64 $1.64
-16.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$45.64 $45.64
-45.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.91 $0.91
16.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$26.7K $26.7K
17.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
3.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$147 $147
26.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$44.48 $44.48
41.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$66.1 $66.1
-0.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$47.05 $47.05
59.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$13.33 $13.33
13.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$832 $832
148.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$23.0K $23.0K
68.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$29.79 $29.79
114.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$20.22 $20.22
151.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$95.6 $95.6
1.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$105 $105
37.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,645 $1,645
42.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,035 $1,035
56.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$2,713 $2,713
75.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,165 $2,165
27.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$4,936 $4,936
-23.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,343 $2,343
11.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,790 $3,790
32.10%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Fort Walton Beach, FL: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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