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

🙂 Solo nomad: Gainesville, FL is 4.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 9.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Gainesville, FL is 9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.06 $20.06
$20.82 $20.82
-3.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65 $65
$100 $100
-35.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 $10.16
$11.97 $11.97
-15.12%
Cappuccino
$5.72 $5.72
$5.56 $5.56
2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.11 $3.11
-14.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.42 $2.42
-7.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.94 $4.94
$6.86 $6.86
-27.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.56 $7.56
$8.45 $8.45
-10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.04 $1.04
22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.73 $3.73
$4.15 $4.15
-10.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$5.52 $5.52
1.09%
Eggs
$4.5 $4.5
$4.65 $4.65
-3.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.19 $12.19
$14.33 $14.33
-14.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.03 $13.03
$14.88 $14.88
-12.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.67 $22.67
$19.34 $19.34
17.22%
Apples (1kg)
$7.39 $7.39
$5.17 $5.17
42.94%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.71 $1.71
70.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.85 $5.85
$4.41 $4.41
32.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$4.51 $4.51
-21.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.53 $2.53
53.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.74 $2.74
22.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.43 $2.43
-4.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.7 $2.7
17.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.32 $8.32
$15.19 $15.19
-45.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.25 $13.25
$16.42 $16.42
-19.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.36 $6.36
$3.7 $3.7
71.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.26 $35.26
$74.1 $74.1
-52.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.34 $3.34
7.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.42 $1.42
2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.49 $29.49
$25.42 $25.42
16.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 $306
$188 $188
62.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.53 $48.53
$63.7 $63.7
-23.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.9 $77.9
$65.2 $65.2
19.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.06 $46.06
$76.7 $76.7
-39.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$14.93 $14.93
-1.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,404 $1,404
$2,063 $2,063
-31.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K $18.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.19 $43.19
$64.3 $64.3
-32.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.7 $48.7
$52.4 $52.4
-7.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 $87.3
$95.2 $95.2
-8.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182 $182
$145 $145
26.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,425 $1,425
$2,378 $2,378
-40.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,188 $1,188
$1,584 $1,584
-25.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 $2,965
$4,763 $4,763
-37.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,347 $2,347
$2,815 $2,815
-16.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,512 $2,512
$3,588 $3,588
-29.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,258 $2,258
$2,490 $2,490
-9.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gainesville, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,529 $3,529
$5,275 $5,275
-33.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

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

Last update for Gainesville, FL: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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