Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Orange, FL: $2,622 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chicago, IL, United States
Port Orange, FL, United States
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Port Orange, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,622
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Port Orange, FL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Port Orange, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,622 in Port Orange, FL, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $3,037
  • Port Orange, FL $2,622

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,838 in Port Orange, FL, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $4,518
  • Port Orange, FL $3,838

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,054 in Port Orange, FL, rent included.

  • Chicago, IL $5,999
  • Port Orange, FL $5,054

Chicago, IL costs about 16% more than Port Orange, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Port Orange, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Port Orange, FL by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.71 $20.71
$19.12 $19.12
8.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.2 $89.2
$76.2 $76.2
17.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.19 $13.19
$10.96 $10.96
20.35%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$4.98 $4.98
13.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.58 $2.58
2.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.04 $2.04
11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$6.03 $6.03
13.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.84 $8.84
$6.91 $6.91
27.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.01 $1.01
23.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.53 $3.53
5.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$4.43 $4.43
21.67%
Eggs
$4.74 $4.74
$4.13 $4.13
14.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.84 $13.84
$12.19 $12.19
13.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.40 $14.40
$11.62 $11.62
23.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.38 $18.38
$15.57 $15.57
18.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.22 $5.22
$4.88 $4.88
6.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.58 $1.58
25.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.16 $4.16
-2.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$4.58 $4.58
8.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.83 $2.83
-5.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.80 $2.80
-5.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.10 $2.10
6.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.19 $2.19
42.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.82 $13.82
$9.49 $9.49
45.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.80 $13.80
7.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.76 $1.76
44.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.39 $3.39
3.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.05 $2.05
18.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 $73.5
$54.6 $54.6
34.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.44 $3.44
-7.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.60 $1.60
-13.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.03 $25.03
$28.98 $28.98
-13.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$0.91 $0.91
31.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$29.3K $29.3K
19.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.1K $26.1K
2.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$187 $187
3.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.5 $69.5
$52.1 $52.1
33.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$67.2 $67.2
-8.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.90 $47.90
$43.67 $43.67
9.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.34 $27.34
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.81 $17.81
$13.52 $13.52
31.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,794 $1,794
$1,316 $1,316
36.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K $31.9K
$23.2K $23.2K
37.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 $67.0
$50.2 $50.2
33.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 $52.1
$40.77 $40.77
27.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$88.0 $88.0
15.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$114 $114
26.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 $2,526
$1,601 $1,601
57.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,578 $1,578
$1,345 $1,345
17.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,738 $4,738
$2,640 $2,640
79.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,693 $2,693
$2,220 $2,220
21.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,190 $4,190
$2,783 $2,783
50.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,768 $2,768
$2,399 $2,399
15.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Port Orange, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,931 $4,931
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
6.51
4.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Port Orange, FL: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
$1.6K
Port Orange, FL
$1.3K 14.8% $233
Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
$447
Port Orange, FL
$386 13.6% $61
Eating Out
Chicago, IL
$345
Port Orange, FL
$308 10.7% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
$326
Port Orange, FL
$306 5.9% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
$164
Port Orange, FL
$132 19.6% $32
Getting Around
Chicago, IL
$93
Port Orange, FL
$74 20.5% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
$84
Port Orange, FL
$71 15.3% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,601 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 in Chicago, IL versus $76 in Port Orange, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $386 – making Port Orange, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 Port Orange, FL
🕒 Local time
09:24 9:24 AM
10:24 10:24 AM
1 h ahead of Chicago, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,746,388
63,818
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chicago, IL Port Orange, FL 1,540 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Chicago, IL
  • Port Orange, FL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and in Port Orange, FL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,622 in Port Orange, FL – roughly 16% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to Port Orange, FL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,933 in Port Orange, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chicago, IL and Port Orange, FL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Orange, FL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,601 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 16% 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $76 in Port Orange, FL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Orange, FL, where all-in costs run around $2,622, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Port Orange, FL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Chicago, IL or Port Orange, FL?
Families tend to lean toward Port Orange, FL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Where should expats move: Chicago, IL or Port Orange, FL?
For expats, Port Orange, FL is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 16% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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