Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palm Bay, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Palm Bay, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,286 in Palm Bay, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,526 in Palm Bay, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,767 in Palm Bay, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 35% more than Palm Bay, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Palm Bay, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Palm Bay, FL by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$25.48 $25.48

-17.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$75.6 $75.6

29.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.13 $10.13

17.08%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.16 $5.16

8.53%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.76 $2.76

11.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.14 $2.14

15.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.05 $6.05

18.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$4.87 $4.87

65.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.98 $0.98

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.57 $3.57

15.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.34 $4.34

29.26%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.48 $3.48

29.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.72 $13.72

4.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$9.99 $9.99

49.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.54 $15.54

23.49%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.72 $4.72

8.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.97 $1.97

-10.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.71 $5.71

-23.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.49 $5.49

-16.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.88 $3.88

-34.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.73 $3.73

-26.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.71 $2.71

-10.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.59 $2.59

1.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.42 $8.42

77.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.68 $11.68

26.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.77 $1.77

38.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.32 $4.32

-13.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.01 $1.01

145.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.57 $2.57

23.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.28 $1.28

10.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$29.29 $29.29

-14.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.89 $0.89

19.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K $31.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

-10.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

5.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$185 $185

$120 $120

54.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$54.1 $54.1

14.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$63.3 $63.3

5.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$34.35 $34.35

118.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$8.59 $8.59

71.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,020 $2,020

$883 $883

128.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$6,999 $6,999

463.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$53.4 $53.4

21.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$27.06 $27.06

93.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$93.8 $93.8

4.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$110 $110

33.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,221 $1,221

89.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,069 $1,069

48.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,007 $2,007

129.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$1,985 $1,985

40.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,495 $2,495

57.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,516 $2,516

3.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$3,605 $3,605

44.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Palm Bay, FL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,221 in Palm Bay, FL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 45% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Palm Bay, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $402 – making Palm Bay, 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 Palm Bay, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,286 in Palm Bay, FL – roughly 35% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,429 in Palm Bay, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palm Bay, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Palm Bay, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Palm Bay, FL, where all-in costs run around $2,286, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Palm Bay, FL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,286 in Palm Bay, FL to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Palm Bay, 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.