Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sun City Center, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Sun City Center, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,498 in Sun City Center, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,671 in Sun City Center, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,843 in Sun City Center, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 27% more than Sun City Center, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Sun City Center, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Sun City Center, FL by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$26.04 $26.04

-22.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$67.0 $67.0

32.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$12.22 $12.22

7.69%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.28 $5.28

9.28%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.55 $2.55

3.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.94 $1.94

20.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.12 $5.12

37.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$7.29 $7.29

25.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.99 $0.99

31.31%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.33 $3.33

21.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.51 $3.51

62.11%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$3.08 $3.08

57.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$12.33 $12.33

22.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.15 $13.15

13.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$19.11 $19.11

0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.98 $4.98

14.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.77 $1.77

9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.68 $5.68

-27.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.33 $3.33

53.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.89 $1.89

54.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.30 $3.30

-16.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.72 $2.72

-15.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.31 $1.31

132.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$9.07 $9.07

75.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$12.80 $12.80

17.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.78 $1.78

42.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$6.27 $6.27

-44.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.19 $2.19

15.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.45 $3.45

-4.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.52 $1.52

-10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$29.68 $29.68

-24.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.97 $0.97

25.77%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$37.3K $37.3K

-3.16%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.2K $23.2K

11.92%

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

$188 $188

$119 $119

58.48%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$39.29 $39.29

75.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$60.5 $60.5

4.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$37.94 $37.94

67.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$15.53 $15.53

15.26%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$1,083 $1,083

40.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$17.8K $17.8K

79.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$37.45 $37.45

65.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$40.07 $40.07

40.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$87.5 $87.5

15.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$182 $182

-14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,653 $1,653

41.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,139 $1,139

49.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,451 $2,451

86.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,130 $2,130

31.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$2,974 $2,974

38.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,155 $2,155

27.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.07

5.11%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sun City Center, FL: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,653 in Sun City Center, 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 $67.0 in Sun City Center, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 vs $390 – making Sun City Center, 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 Sun City Center, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $2,498 in Sun City Center, FL – roughly 27% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,747 in Sun City Center, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sun City Center, 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 $67.0 in Sun City Center, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,184 in Chicago, IL and $2,498 in Sun City Center, 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 $2,498 in Sun City Center, FL to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Sun City Center, 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.