Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Green Cove Springs, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Green Cove Springs, FL: $2,411 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Green Cove Springs, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,411
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Green Cove Springs, FL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Green Cove Springs, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,411 in Green Cove Springs, FL, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $3,139
  • Green Cove Springs, FL $2,411

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,812 in Green Cove Springs, FL, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $4,627
  • Green Cove Springs, FL $3,812

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,212 in Green Cove Springs, FL, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $6,115
  • Green Cove Springs, FL $5,212

Chicago, IL costs about 30% more than Green Cove Springs, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Green Cove Springs, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Green Cove Springs, FL by 78%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.65 $20.65
$25.54 $25.54
-19.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.2 $90.2
$75.8 $75.8
18.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.94 $12.94
$10.19 $10.19
26.99%
Cappuccino
$5.60 $5.60
$5.23 $5.23
7.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.06 $3.06
-13.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.99 $1.99
14.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.36 $5.36
30.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.83 $8.83
$7.41 $7.41
19.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.75 $0.75
69.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.80 $3.80
$3.13 $3.13
21.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$2.08 $2.08
154.81%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$3.91 $3.91
21.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.96 $13.96
$4.86 $4.86
187.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.61 $14.61
$11.34 $11.34
28.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.77 $18.77
$14.86 $14.86
26.31%
Apples (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.70 $4.70
10.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.58 $1.58
25.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$4.40 $4.40
-10.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$4.03 $4.03
23.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.92 $2.92
-5.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.75 $2.75
0.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.32 $2.32
-4.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.99 $0.99
201.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.02 $14.02
$8.46 $8.46
65.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$15.11 $15.11
1.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.06 $2.06
25.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 $3.50
$3.32 $3.32
5.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.89 $1.89
30.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.8 $74.8
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.06 $3.06
9.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.91 $1.91
-25.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.32 $24.32
$25.93 $25.93
-6.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.03 $1.03
22.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$28.4K $28.4K
23.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.9K $26.9K
-2.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 $193
$168 $168
14.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$57.3 $57.3
19.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3 $61.3
$75.8 $75.8
-19.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 $54.1
$37.95 $37.95
42.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 $27.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.74 $17.74
$12.63 $12.63
40.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,652 $1,652
$885 $885
86.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.1K $31.1K
$20.5K $20.5K
51.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.1 $66.1
$74.5 $74.5
-11.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$57.8 $57.8
-11.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$119 $119
-15.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$103 $103
37.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,446 $2,446
$1,731 $1,731
41.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,678 $1,678
$1,176 $1,176
42.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,717 $4,717
$2,876 $2,876
64.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,795 $2,795
$2,445 $2,445
14.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,105 $4,105
$3,043 $3,043
34.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$2,392 $2,392
10.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Green Cove Springs, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,866 $4,866
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
6.86
-0.73%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Green Cove Springs, FL: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
$1.7K
Green Cove Springs, FL
$1.2K 29.9% $502
Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
$449
Green Cove Springs, FL
$332 26.1% $117
Eating Out
Chicago, IL
$343
Green Cove Springs, FL
$359 4.6% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
$322
Green Cove Springs, FL
$302 6.4% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
$161
Green Cove Springs, FL
$159 1.3% $2.1
Getting Around
Chicago, IL
$95
Green Cove Springs, FL
$20 * 78.8% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
$90
Green Cove Springs, FL
$63 29.5% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,731 in Green Cove Springs, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Green Cove Springs, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $332 – making Green Cove Springs, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 Green Cove Springs, FL
🕒 Local time
08:17 8:17 AM
09:17 9:17 AM
1 h ahead of Chicago, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,746,388
8,500
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chicago, IL Green Cove Springs, FL 1,420 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chicago, IL
  • Green Cove Springs, FL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Green Cove Springs, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and in Green Cove Springs, FL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,411 in Green Cove Springs, FL – roughly 30% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to Green Cove Springs, FL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,617 in Green Cove Springs, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chicago, IL and Green Cove Springs, FL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Green Cove Springs, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Green Cove Springs, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 35% 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.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,411 in Green Cove Springs, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Chicago, IL and Green Cove Springs, FL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,411 in Green Cove Springs, FL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Chicago, IL and Green Cove Springs, FL?
If budget matters most, go with Green Cove Springs, 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.

Chicago, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?