Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Coral Gables, FL and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Coral Gables, FL: $2,531 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

Cost of Living Index in Coral Gables, FL
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Coral Gables, FL Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Coral Gables, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,531

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Coral Gables, FL and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Coral Gables, FL and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,531 per month in Coral Gables, FL vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Coral Gables, FL $2,531
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,732 per month in Coral Gables, FL vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Coral Gables, FL $3,732
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,932 per month in Coral Gables, FL vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Coral Gables, FL $4,932
Chicago, IL $5,999

Coral Gables, FL is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Coral Gables, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Coral Gables, FL by 86%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.61 $17.61

$20.71 $20.71

-14.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 $74.0

$89.2 $89.2

-17.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 $10.12

$13.19 $13.19

-23.28%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.66 $5.66

-7.42%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.64 $2.64

16.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.28 $2.28

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.15 $5.15

$6.87 $6.87

-25.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 $7.47

$8.84 $8.84

-15.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.25 $1.25

-33.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.72 $3.72

12.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$5.39 $5.39

-41.56%

Eggs

$4.04 $4.04

$4.74 $4.74

-14.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.24 $13.24

$13.84 $13.84

-4.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.15 $11.15

$14.40 $14.40

-22.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.97 $14.97

$18.38 $18.38

-18.55%

Apples (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$5.22 $5.22

-12.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.98 $1.98

-20.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.06 $4.06

6.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.97 $4.97

8.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.67 $2.67

12.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.66 $2.66

12.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.24 $2.24

3.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

$3.13 $3.13

-59.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.09 $9.09

$13.82 $13.82

-34.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$14.88 $14.88

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.54 $2.54

-18.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.51 $3.51

-7.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.43 $2.43

-19.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$58.9 $58.9

$73.5 $73.5

-19.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.18 $3.18

-4.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.39 $1.39

35.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.36 $24.36

$25.03 $25.03

-2.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.20 $1.20

-15.83%

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

$18.4K $18.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-47.62%

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

$21.1K $21.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-20.74%

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

$170 $170

$194 $194

-12.31%

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

$39.67 $39.67

$69.5 $69.5

-42.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 $58.9

$61.6 $61.6

-4.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.48 $39.48

$47.90 $47.90

-17.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$12.97 $12.97

$17.81 $17.81

-27.18%

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

$883 $883

$1,794 $1,794

-50.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K $20.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

-35.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.3 $73.3

$67.0 $67.0

9.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.9 $56.9

$52.1 $52.1

9.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$102 $102

16.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$144 $144

-28.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,105 $3,105

$2,526 $2,526

22.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 $1,281

$1,578 $1,578

-18.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,534 $2,534

$4,738 $4,738

-46.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,134 $2,134

$2,693 $2,693

-20.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,814 $2,814

$4,190 $4,190

-32.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,321 $2,321

$2,768 $2,768

-16.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,871 $5,871

$4,931 $4,931

19.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.76

6.81

-0.73%

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

Last update for Coral Gables, FL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Coral Gables, FL

$1.3K 50.6%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 23.2% $297

Groceries & Markets

Coral Gables, FL

$383 15.2%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 16.7% $64

Eating Out

Coral Gables, FL

$295 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 17% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Coral Gables, FL

$269 10.6%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 21% $56

Clothing & Footwear

Coral Gables, FL

$158 6.2%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 3.8% $5.9

Getting Around

Coral Gables, FL

$79 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 17.8% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Coral Gables, FL

$65 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 27.7% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,105 in Coral Gables, FL versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. 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 19% higher in Coral Gables, FL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Coral Gables, FL versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $447 – making Coral Gables, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Coral Gables, FL

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

07:59 7:59 AM

06:59 6:59 AM

1 h behind Coral Gables, FL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

42,794

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Coral Gables, FL Chicago, IL 1,920 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Coral Gables, FL
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Coral Gables, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,531 in Coral Gables, FL, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 20% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,797 per month in Coral Gables, FL and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,526 there versus $3,105 in Coral Gables, FL.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $74 in Coral Gables, FL and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Coral Gables, FL, where all-in costs run around $2,531, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Coral Gables, FL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,531 in Coral Gables, FL to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.