Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Petersburg, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Petersburg, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,891 in Saint Petersburg, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,295 in Saint Petersburg, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,698 in Saint Petersburg, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 6% more than Saint Petersburg, FL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Saint Petersburg, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Saint Petersburg, FL by 116%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.86 $18.86

10.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$72.4 $72.4

35.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.95 $8.95

32.51%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.73 $4.73

18.39%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.25 $2.25

36.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.87 $1.87

32.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.91 $3.91

82.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.43 $7.43

8.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.19 $1.19

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.53 $3.53

16.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.14 $4.14

35.51%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$4.52 $4.52

-0.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$9.79 $9.79

45.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.91 $12.91

15.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$12.59 $12.59

52.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.09 $6.09

-15.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.34 $1.34

32.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.55 $5.55

-20.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.22 $5.22

-12.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.53 $3.53

-28.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.86 $3.86

-28.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.96 $1.96

23.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.72 $2.72

-3.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$8.44 $8.44

76.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.10 $15.10

-1.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.76 $1.76

39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$5.90 $5.90

-36.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.08 $3.08

-19.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$70.6 $70.6

6.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.32 $3.32

-4.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.50 $1.50

-5.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$60.7 $60.7

-58.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.88 $0.88

20.45%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$27.8K $27.8K

14.63%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

2.76%

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

$185 $185

$256 $256

-27.90%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$42.49 $42.49

45.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$64.0 $64.0

4.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$24.64 $24.64

205.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$11.90 $11.90

9.92%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.04 $15.04

-2.19%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$504 $504

300.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$25.3K $25.3K

55.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$64.7 $64.7

-0.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$33.93 $33.93

54.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$80.0 $80.0

22.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$142 $142

4.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,736 $1,736

33.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,566 $1,566

1.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$3,703 $3,703

24.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,624 $2,624

5.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$5,449 $5,449

-28.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$3,612 $3,612

-27.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$4,184 $4,184

24.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.59

0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Saint Petersburg, FL: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,736 in Saint Petersburg, 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 25% 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 $72.0 in Saint Petersburg, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $410 – making Saint Petersburg, 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 Saint Petersburg, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,891 in Saint Petersburg, FL – roughly 6% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,337 in Saint Petersburg, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 9% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $72.0 in Saint Petersburg, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,891 in Saint Petersburg, 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 $2,891 in Saint Petersburg, FL to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Saint Petersburg, 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.