Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sarasota, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sarasota, FL

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 13.2% more expensive than Sarasota, FL without rent, and 5.7% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.8% more expensive than Sarasota, FL without rent, and 3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.93 $19.93
4.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$91.1 $91.1
10.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.8 $9.8
22.14%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.5 $5.5
1.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.13 $3.13
-0.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.7 $2.7
-10.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.03 $6.03
13.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.07 $8.07
4.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.15 $1.15
-9.57%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.85 $3.85
7.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.16 $4.16
32.69%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.53 $4.53
2.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.88 $12.88
11.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$17.21 $17.21
-13.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$22.29 $22.29
-13.23%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.73 $5.73
-9.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.64 $1.64
4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.65 $3.65
20.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.57 $5.57
-19.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.24 $4.24
-40.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.26 $3.26
-15.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.52 $2.52
-3.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.31 $2.31
16.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.93 $7.93
91.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$11.91 $11.91
37.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.16 $2.16
8.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.49 $4.49
-17.59%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.96 $1.96
29.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.39 $2.39
39.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.6 $1.6
-11.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.85 $28.85
-11.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.7K $29.7K
9.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.15%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$160 $160
17.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$47.1 $47.1
35.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.1 $72.1
-9.53%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.28 $43.28
77.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$17.53 $17.53
-25.67%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$15.15 $15.15
-1.45%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,088 $1,088
89.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$18.3K $18.3K
114.22%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$60 $60
7.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$43.96 $43.96
19.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$121 $121
-21.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$132 $132
9.82%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,123 $2,123
12.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,865 $1,865
-15.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,675 $3,675
29.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$3,014 $3,014
-6.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,480 $3,480
3.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,874 $2,874
-13.34%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Sarasota, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,742 $3,742
40.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.63
-0.45%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sarasota, FL: October 28, 2025

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