Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Palm Beach, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Palm Beach, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,074 in West Palm Beach, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,608 in West Palm Beach, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,142 in West Palm Beach, FL, rent included.

Chicago, IL and West Palm Beach, FL have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Chicago, IL and West Palm Beach, FL sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, West Palm Beach, FL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$22.69 $22.69

-11.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$89.9 $89.9

10.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.91 $9.91

23.41%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.95 $4.95

13.13%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.79 $2.79

11.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.10 $6.10

13.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.09 $7.09

15.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.02 $1.02

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$2.86 $2.86

38.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.22 $5.22

6.90%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.46 $4.46

0.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$15.90 $15.90

-8.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.22 $11.22

34.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.22 $15.22

27.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.55 $4.55

18.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.55 $1.55

13.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.46 $5.46

-20.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.68 $5.68

-22.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.77 $3.77

-32.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.79 $3.79

-28.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.39 $2.39

4.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.49 $2.49

4.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$5.83 $5.83

153.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$12.76 $12.76

18.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.75 $1.75

41.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.14 $2.14

68.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.96 $1.96

29.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$70.4 $70.4

8.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.49 $2.49

32.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.94 $1.94

-28.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$29.61 $29.61

-14.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$36.8K $36.8K

-13.89%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.3K $25.3K

5.03%

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

$186 $186

$174 $174

7.08%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$46.06 $46.06

36.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$60.9 $60.9

8.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$48.12 $48.12

61.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$40.39 $40.39

-67.42%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.51 $14.51

1.59%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$828 $828

146.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$40.6K $40.6K

-1.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$52.7 $52.7

21.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$33.69 $33.69

51.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$78.8 $78.8

20.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$98.8 $98.8

45.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,290 $2,290

0.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,766 $1,766

-10.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,972 $3,972

18.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$3,117 $3,117

-12.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$4,251 $4,251

-4.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$3,753 $3,753

-28.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,053 $4,053

23.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.53

1.07%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for West Palm Beach, FL: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $2,290 in West Palm Beach, 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 24% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $90.0 in West Palm Beach, FL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $406 – making West Palm Beach, 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 West Palm Beach, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,610 in West Palm Beach, FL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $90.0 in West Palm Beach, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Chicago, IL. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $3,074 in West Palm Beach, 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 $3,068 in Chicago, IL to $3,074 in West Palm Beach, FL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, West Palm Beach, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.