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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 24.4% more expensive than Lakeland, FL without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.7% more expensive than Lakeland, FL without rent, and 18.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.1 $20.1
3.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.8 $79.8
25.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.13 $10.13
18.16%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.98 $4.98
11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.54 $2.54
22.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.91 $1.91
26.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.99 $4.99
37.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.45 $4.45
89.89%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.1 $1.1
-5.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.92 $3.92
5.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.2 $4.2
31.43%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.37 $4.37
6.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.27 $12.27
16.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$15.55 $15.55
-4.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.42 $22.42
-13.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.49 $5.49
-5.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.56 $1.56
9.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.59 $3.59
22.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.48 $5.48
-17.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.02 $3.02
-16.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.41 $3.41
-19.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.13 $2.13
14.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.35 $2.35
14.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.95 $7.95
91.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.96 $11.96
37.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.69 $1.69
39.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.04 $4.04
-8.42%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.4 $2.4
39.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.63 $1.63
-12.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.1 $29.1
-12.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.4K $30.4K
6.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$21.6K $21.6K
21.60%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$160 $160
17.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.66 $47.66
33.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$54.7 $54.7
19.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$33.69 $33.69
127.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.09 $15.09
-1.06%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$668 $668
208.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.3K $18.3K
113.56%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.52 $39.52
62.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.12 $44.12
18.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$118 $118
-19.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$128 $128
13.32%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,911 $1,911
24.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,517 $1,517
4.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,041 $3,041
56.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,431 $2,431
15.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,141 $2,141
67.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,109 $2,109
18.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Lakeland, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,613 $3,613
46.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.56
0.61%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Lakeland, FL: October 28, 2025

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