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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22.4% more expensive than Melbourne, FL without rent, and 3.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 38.3% more expensive than Melbourne, FL without rent, and 21.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$25.38 $25.38
-17.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.1 $76.1
31.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.64 $9.64
24.17%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.92 $4.92
13.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.78 $2.78
11.87%
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
$6.09 $6.09
12.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.56 $6.56
28.81%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.84 $0.84
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.82 $3.82
8.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.73 $2.73
102.20%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.76 $3.76
23.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.64 $11.64
23.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.2 $8.2
81.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.58 $14.58
32.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.69 $4.69
10.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.58 $1.58
8.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.6 $3.6
22.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.19 $5.19
-13.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.62 $2.62
-3.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.46 $3.46
-20.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.27 $2.27
7.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.03 $2.03
33.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.56 $9.56
58.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.26 $15.26
7.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.84 $2.84
30.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.76 $3.76
-32.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$41.9 $41.9
76.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.54 $4.54
-26.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$0.61 $0.61
132.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$21.89 $21.89
16.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.4K $23.4K
38.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.8K $24.8K
5.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$170 $170
10.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57.3 $57.3
11.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.6 $62.6
4.20%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$71.4 $71.4
7.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$1.94 $1.94
571.65%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.88 $12.88
15.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$899 $899
129.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.3K $16.3K
140.12%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$46.58 $46.58
38.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$44.57 $44.57
17.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.3 $88.3
7.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$95.2 $95.2
51.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,641 $1,641
44.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,592 $1,592
-0.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,983 $2,983
59.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,282 $2,282
23.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,300 $3,300
8.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,542 $2,542
-2.03%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Melbourne, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,785 $3,785
39.35%
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 Melbourne, FL: October 29, 2025

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