Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $3,349 in Hollywood, FL, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hollywood, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,349
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,349 per month in Hollywood, FL vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hollywood, FL $3,349
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $5,215 per month in Hollywood, FL vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hollywood, FL $5,215
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $7,080 per month in Hollywood, FL vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Hollywood, FL $7,080
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Hollywood, FL costs about 7% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hollywood, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hollywood, FL by 147%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.54 $29.54
$20.65 $20.65
43.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$90.2 $90.2
34.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.93 $11.93
$12.94 $12.94
-7.81%
Cappuccino
$5.55 $5.55
$5.60 $5.60
-0.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.64 $2.64
34.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.27 $2.27
24.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.56 $7.56
$6.98 $6.98
8.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.18 $10.18
$8.83 $8.83
15.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.27 $1.27
-8.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.80 $3.80
2.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.84 $5.84
$5.30 $5.30
10.19%
Eggs
$5.14 $5.14
$4.76 $4.76
7.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.46 $15.46
$13.96 $13.96
10.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.35 $16.35
$14.61 $14.61
11.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.19 $17.19
$18.77 $18.77
-8.42%
Apples (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$5.19 $5.19
-1.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.98 $1.98
15.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$3.93 $3.93
8.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$4.96 $4.96
-10.28%
Potato (1kg)
$3.21 $3.21
$2.76 $2.76
16.30%
Onion (1kg)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.76 $2.76
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.22 $2.22
40.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.98 $2.98
-18.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.39 $9.39
$14.02 $14.02
-33.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$15.28 $15.28
-0.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.58 $2.58
-15.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$3.50 $3.50
-10.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$2.47 $2.47
-40.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.8 $70.8
$74.8 $74.8
-5.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.34 $3.34
-11.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.43 $1.43
39.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.70 $23.70
$24.32 $24.32
-2.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$35.0K $35.0K
-18.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.1K $26.1K
2.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$143 $143
$193 $193
-25.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.7 $65.7
$68.3 $68.3
-3.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$61.3 $61.3
18.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.33 $40.33
$54.1 $54.1
-25.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.68 $16.68
$17.74 $17.74
-5.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$1,652 $1,652
-10.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,651 $9,651
$31.1K $31.1K
-68.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6 $62.6
$66.1 $66.1
-5.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1 $50.1
$51.2 $51.2
-2.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$141 $141
-16.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,446 $2,446
-7.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,874 $1,874
$1,678 $1,678
11.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,106 $4,106
$4,717 $4,717
-12.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,549 $3,549
$2,795 $2,795
26.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,031 $9,031
$4,105 $4,105
119.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,817 $4,817
$2,650 $2,650
81.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,706 $3,706
$4,866 $4,866
-23.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
6.81
-2.64%

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

Last update for Hollywood, FL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hollywood, FL
$1.9K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 10.5% $197
Groceries & Markets
Hollywood, FL
$458
Chicago, IL
$449 1.9% $8.9
Eating Out
Hollywood, FL
$422
Chicago, IL
$343 18.7% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hollywood, FL
$282
Chicago, IL
$322 14.4% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Hollywood, FL
$149
Chicago, IL
$161 8% $12
Getting Around
Hollywood, FL
$90
Chicago, IL
$95 6.1% $5.5
Sport & Entertainment
Hollywood, FL
$74
Chicago, IL
$90 21.6% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,257 in Hollywood, FL versus $2,446 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 31% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $121 in Hollywood, FL versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $449 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hollywood, FL
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
06:50 6:50 AM
05:50 5:50 AM
1 h behind Hollywood, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
167,664
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hollywood, FL Chicago, IL 1,890 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hollywood, 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
Hollywood, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hollywood, FL and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,349 in Hollywood, FL, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 7% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Hollywood, FL compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,024 per month in Hollywood, FL and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hollywood, FL and Chicago, IL?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Hollywood, FL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Hollywood, FL and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,349 in Hollywood, FL and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Hollywood, FL and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,349 in Hollywood, FL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Hollywood, FL and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hollywood, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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