Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Gainesville, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Gainesville, FL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.3% more expensive than Gainesville, FL without rent, and 11% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.9% more expensive than Gainesville, FL without rent, and 13.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.06 $20.06
3.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$65 $65
54.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.16 $10.16
17.81%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.72 $5.72
-2.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.65 $2.65
17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.23 $2.23
8.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.94 $4.94
38.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.56 $7.56
11.77%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.27 $1.27
-18.11%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.73 $3.73
11.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.58 $5.58
-1.08%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.5 $4.5
3.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.19 $12.19
17.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.03 $13.03
14.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.67 $22.67
-14.69%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.39 $7.39
-30.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.91 $2.91
-41.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.85 $5.85
-24.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.53 $3.53
27.76%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.89 $3.89
-34.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.35 $3.35
-18.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.31 $2.31
5.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.18 $3.18
-15.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.32 $8.32
82.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.25 $13.25
23.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$6.36 $6.36
-41.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, 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
$35.26 $35.26
110.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.58 $3.58
-6.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.46 $1.46
-2.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.49 $29.49
-13.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.5K $30.5K
6.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.6K $25.6K
2.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$306 $306
-38.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$48.53 $48.53
31.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$77.9 $77.9
-16.29%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$46.06 $46.06
66.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.72 $14.72
1.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,404 $1,404
46.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.4K $18.4K
113.41%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$43.19 $43.19
48.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$48.7 $48.7
7.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.3 $87.3
9.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$182 $182
-20.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,425 $1,425
66.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,188 $1,188
33.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,965 $2,965
60.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,347 $2,347
19.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,512 $2,512
42.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,258 $2,258
10.28%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Gainesville, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,529 $3,529
49.48%
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 Gainesville, FL: October 28, 2025

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