Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Port Orange, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Port Orange, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,601 in Port Orange, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,766 in Port Orange, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,931 in Port Orange, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 22% more than Port Orange, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Port Orange, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Port Orange, FL by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$18.95 $18.95

6.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$75.5 $75.5

17.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$10.83 $10.83

21.51%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.19 $5.19

11.18%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.50 $2.50

5.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.02 $2.02

15.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.98 $5.98

18.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.08 $7.08

29.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.04 $1.04

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.48 $3.48

16.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$4.27 $4.27

33.26%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.12 $4.12

17.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.30 $12.30

22.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$11.29 $11.29

31.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.46 $15.46

24.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.86 $4.86

16.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.64 $1.64

17.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.24 $4.24

-3.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$4.72 $4.72

8.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.81 $2.81

3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.76 $2.76

0.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.08 $2.08

10.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.08 $2.08

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$9.37 $9.37

70.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$14.09 $14.09

6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.76 $1.76

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.38 $3.38

2.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.97 $1.97

28.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.42 $3.42

-4.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.58 $1.58

-13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$28.94 $28.94

-22.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.89 $0.89

37.08%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$29.3K $29.3K

23.36%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.36%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.77%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$53.4 $53.4

29.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$66.3 $66.3

-4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$43.29 $43.29

46.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.59 $13.59

31.71%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,282 $1,282

19.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

34.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$51.9 $51.9

19.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$40.34 $40.34

39.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$87.0 $87.0

16.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$114 $114

37.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,572 $1,572

48.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,334 $1,334

27.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,581 $2,581

77.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,207 $2,207

27.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,811 $2,811

46.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,460 $2,460

11.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.51

-2.00%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Port Orange, FL: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,572 in Port Orange, 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Port Orange, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $384 – making Port Orange, 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 Port Orange, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,601 in Port Orange, FL – roughly 22% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,902 in Port Orange, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Orange, 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Port Orange, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,601 in Port Orange, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,601 in Port Orange, FL to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Port Orange, 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.