๐A single person spends $3,066 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,916 in North Port, FL, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,914 in North Port, FL, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $6,100 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,913 in North Port, FL, rent included.
๐Chicago, IL costs about 5% more than North Port, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Chicago, IL and North Port, FL sit above the global median โ Chicago, IL by 128%, North Port, FL by 116%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53$20.53
$22.50$22.50
-8.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102$102
$88.9$88.9
14.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03$12.03
$10.07$10.07
19.46%
Cappuccino
$5.62$5.62
$5.14$5.14
9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07$3.07
$2.53$2.53
21.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42$2.42
$1.96$1.96
23.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.98$6.98
$4.97$4.97
40.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10$8.10
$7.01$7.01
15.55%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08$1.08
$0.96$0.96
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$3.95$3.95
$2.82$2.82
40.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.52$5.52
$1.79$1.79
208.38%
Eggs
$4.55$4.55
$3.06$3.06
48.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.58$14.58
$10.88$10.88
34.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.91$14.91
$11.25$11.25
32.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.83$18.83
$15.40$15.40
22.27%
Apples(1kg)
$5.34$5.34
$4.68$4.68
14.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76$1.76
$0.69$0.69
155.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$3.51$3.51
25.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.37$4.37
$5.15$5.15
-15.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55$2.55
$2.29$2.29
11.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.78$2.78
$1.11$1.11
150.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46$2.46
$1.97$1.97
24.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66$2.66
$1.46$1.46
82.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74$14.74
$5.71$5.71
158.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.17$15.17
$13.24$13.24
14.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$2.06$2.06
18.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68$3.68
$2.09$2.09
76.08%
๐ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52$2.52
$2.01$2.01
25.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.5$74.5
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29$3.29
$5.09$5.09
-35.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43$1.43
$1.23$1.23
16.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.86$24.86
$29.41$29.41
-15.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09$1.09
$0.93$0.93
17.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K$31.3K
$30.4K$30.4K
3.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$25.2K$25.2K
6.10%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$121$121
54.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4$62.4
$61.0$61.0
2.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1$67.1
$64.8$64.8
3.64%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.2$75.2
$20.13$20.13
273.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.17$13.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.21$15.21
$14.60$14.60
4.18%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,039$2,039
$804$804
153.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.3K$39.3K
$61.0K$61.0K
-35.53%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0$64.0
$25.30$25.30
152.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6$50.6
$30.10$30.10
68.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4$95.4
$64.3$64.3
48.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144$144
$78.8$78.8
82.32%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,355$2,355
$2,330$2,330
1.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,613$1,613
$1,776$1,776
-9.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,728$4,728
$3,553$3,553
33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,754$2,754
$2,414$2,414
14.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,803$3,803
$4,126$4,126
-7.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,580$2,580
$2,688$2,688
-4.02%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
North Port, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,738$4,738
$3,875$3,875
22.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
6
10.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chicago, IL: April 14, 2026
Last update for North Port, FL: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $2,355 in Chicago, IL versus $2,330 in North Port, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL versus $89 in North Port, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $335 โ making North Port, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 North Port, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and North Port, FL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,066 in Chicago, IL, $2,916 in North Port, FL โ roughly 5% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to North Port, FL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,599 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,374 in North Port, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chicago, IL and North Port, FL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in North Port, 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 $102 in Chicago, IL and $89.0 in North Port, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 33% 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 $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both โ monthly costs hit $3,066 in Chicago, IL and $2,916 in North Port, 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 North Port, FL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,916 in North Port, FL to $3,066 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Chicago, IL and North Port, FL?
If budget matters most, go with North Port, 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