😐A single person spends $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,749 in St. Augustine, FL, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,850 in St. Augustine, FL, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,950 in St. Augustine, FL, rent included.
😐Chicago, IL costs about 9% more than St. Augustine, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chicago, IL and St. Augustine, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, St. Augustine, FL by 105%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35$20.35
$20.05$20.05
1.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102$102
$74.2$74.2
36.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98$11.98
$9.77$9.77
22.62%
Cappuccino
$5.70$5.70
$3.14$3.14
81.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00$3.00
$2.29$2.29
31.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$1.33$1.33
84.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87$6.87
$4.58$4.58
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09$8.09
$6.82$6.82
18.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$0.89$0.89
15.73%
White Bread(500g)
$3.95$3.95
$1.94$1.94
103.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.42$5.42
$4.48$4.48
20.98%
Eggs
$4.50$4.50
$3.70$3.70
21.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.53$14.53
$11.85$11.85
22.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.89$14.89
$9.59$9.59
55.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.98$18.98
$17.77$17.77
6.81%
Apples(1kg)
$5.39$5.39
$5.75$5.75
-6.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77$1.77
$1.45$1.45
22.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.35$4.35
$3.38$3.38
28.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$3.25$3.25
39.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53$2.53
$1.69$1.69
49.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$2.59$2.59
8.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51$2.51
$2.11$2.11
18.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67$2.67
$1.90$1.90
40.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.88$14.88
$6.31$6.31
135.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.22$15.22
$12.29$12.29
23.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$1.91$1.91
28.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53$3.53
$2.52$2.52
40.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.56$2.56
$2.05$2.05
24.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.3$74.3
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19$3.19
$4.68$4.68
-31.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41$1.41
$1.53$1.53
-7.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.49$25.49
$21.64$21.64
17.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$0.85$0.85
22.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K$32.2K
$44.9K$44.9K
-28.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$22.6K$22.6K
18.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184$184
$113$113
63.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.1$63.1
$39.70$39.70
58.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.4$66.4
$56.6$56.6
17.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.9$75.9
$39.95$39.95
90.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.06$13.06
$25.09$25.09
-47.95%
Cinema Ticket
$15.25$15.25
$14.17$14.17
7.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,090$2,090
$1,158$1,158
80.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$39.2K$39.2K
$8,077$8,077
385.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2$64.2
$65.5$65.5
-1.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0$51.0
$69.9$69.9
-27.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2$97.2
$81.6$81.6
19.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149$149
$109$109
36.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,341$2,341
$1,779$1,779
31.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,572$1,572
$1,636$1,636
-3.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,741$4,741
$3,192$3,192
48.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,819$2,819
$2,373$2,373
18.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,900$3,900
$3,183$3,183
22.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,638$2,638
$2,660$2,660
-0.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
St. Augustine, FL
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,769$4,769
$4,385$4,385
8.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.6
6.26
5.43%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para St. Augustine, FL: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,779 in St. Augustine, 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 9% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in St. Augustine, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $346 – making St. Augustine, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Chicago, IL vs St. Augustine, FL: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Chicago, IL and St. Augustine, FL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,749 in St. Augustine, FL – roughly 9% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chicago, IL compared to St. Augustine, FL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,123 in St. Augustine, 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 St. Augustine, FL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in St. Augustine, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Chicago, IL and $74.0 in St. Augustine, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,009 in Chicago, IL and $2,749 in St. Augustine, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Chicago, IL and St. Augustine, FL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,749 in St. Augustine, FL to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Chicago, IL and St. Augustine, FL?
If budget matters most, go with St. Augustine, 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.
Chicago, IL vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado