Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Crestview, FL: $2,227 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Crestview, FL, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Crestview, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,227
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Crestview, 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 Crestview, FL and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Crestview, FL vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Crestview, FL $2,227
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,163 per month in Crestview, FL vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Crestview, FL $3,163
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,099 per month in Crestview, FL vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Crestview, FL $4,099
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Crestview, FL is about 27% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Crestview, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Crestview, FL by 64%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.06 $15.06
$20.71 $20.71
-27.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.54 $40.54
$89.2 $89.2
-54.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 $8.90
$13.19 $13.19
-32.52%
Cappuccino
$5.12 $5.12
$5.66 $5.66
-9.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.64 $2.64
4.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.28 $2.28
-8.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.87 $6.87
-28.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 $5.88
$8.84 $8.84
-33.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.25 $1.25
-24.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 $3.12
$3.72 $3.72
-16.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$5.39 $5.39
-64.01%
Eggs
$2.03 $2.03
$4.74 $4.74
-57.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$13.84 $13.84
-45.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.28 $10.28
$14.40 $14.40
-28.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.83 $13.83
$18.38 $18.38
-24.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$5.22 $5.22
-24.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.98 $1.98
-45.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.06 $4.06
-18.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$4.97 $4.97
-9.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.67 $2.67
37.45%
Onion (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.66 $2.66
34.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.24 $2.24
-21.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.13 $3.13
-35.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.99 $7.99
$13.82 $13.82
-42.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.75 $14.75
$14.88 $14.88
-0.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.54 $2.54
-31.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$3.51 $3.51
-51.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.43 $2.43
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$73.5 $73.5
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.18 $3.18
-22.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.39 $1.39
5.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.80 $28.80
$25.03 $25.03
15.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.20 $1.20
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$35.0K $35.0K
-13.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.7K $26.7K
-4.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$194 $194
-11.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.91 $29.91
$69.5 $69.5
-56.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1 $66.1
$61.6 $61.6
7.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.15 $40.15
$47.90 $47.90
-16.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.36 $14.36
$17.81 $17.81
-19.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$987 $987
$1,794 $1,794
-44.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K $14.1K
$31.9K $31.9K
-55.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 $58.9
$67.0 $67.0
-12.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 $35.36
$52.1 $52.1
-32.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.4 $99.4
$102 $102
-2.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$144 $144
-27.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 $1,256
$2,526 $2,526
-50.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 $1,157
$1,578 $1,578
-26.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,081 $2,081
$4,738 $4,738
-56.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,872 $1,872
$2,693 $2,693
-30.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,700 $4,700
$4,190 $4,190
12.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,668 $4,668
$2,768 $2,768
68.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crestview, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,188 $3,188
$4,931 $4,931
-35.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.27
6.81
-7.93%

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

Last update for Crestview, FL: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Crestview, FL
$1.2K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 36.4% $421
Groceries & Markets
Crestview, FL
$324
Chicago, IL
$447 37.9% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crestview, FL
$269
Chicago, IL
$326 21.2% $57
Eating Out
Crestview, FL
$264
Chicago, IL
$345 30.6% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Crestview, FL
$134
Chicago, IL
$164 22.2% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Crestview, FL
$69
Chicago, IL
$84 21.3% $15
Getting Around
Crestview, FL
$9.8 *
Chicago, IL
$93 854% $84

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,256 in Crestview, 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 55% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41 in Crestview, FL versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $447 – making Crestview, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Crestview, FL
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
02:00 2:00 AM
02:00 2:00 AM
Same time as Crestview, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
27,134
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Crestview, FL Chicago, IL 1,240 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Crestview, 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
Crestview, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Crestview, FL and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,227 in Crestview, FL, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Crestview, FL comes out roughly 27% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Crestview, FL compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,340 per month in Crestview, FL and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Crestview, FL and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Crestview, FL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,256 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41 in Crestview, FL and $89 in Chicago, IL. 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 38% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Crestview, FL, where all-in costs run around $2,227, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Crestview, FL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Crestview, FL or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward Crestview, FL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Crestview, FL and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Crestview, FL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Crestview, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared

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