Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake City, FL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake City, FL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake City, FL is 32.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lake City, FL is 32% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 46.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.96 $18.96
$20.82 $20.82
-8.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.19 $45.19
$100 $100
-54.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 $11.36
$11.97 $11.97
-5.10%
Cappuccino
$3.03 $3.03
$5.56 $5.56
-45.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.11 $3.11
-27.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 $3.06
$6.86 $6.86
-55.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 $4.51
$8.45 $8.45
-46.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.15 $4.15
-20.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$5.52 $5.52
-57.25%
Eggs
$2.66 $2.66
$4.65 $4.65
-42.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.1 $12.1
$14.33 $14.33
-15.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.68 $11.68
$14.88 $14.88
-21.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.17 $13.17
$19.34 $19.34
-31.90%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$5.17 $5.17
-15.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.71 $1.71
2.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$4.41 $4.41
-22.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$4.51 $4.51
0.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.53 $2.53
-4.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.74 $2.74
22.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.43 $2.43
-31.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.7 $2.7
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06 $8.06
$15.19 $15.19
-46.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.65 $14.65
$16.42 $16.42
-10.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.35 $2.35
-26.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$3.7 $3.7
-26.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.34 $3.34
6.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.42 $1.42
-14.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.91 $28.91
$25.42 $25.42
13.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-13.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 $150
$188 $188
-20.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44 $44
$63.7 $63.7
-30.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.6 $63.6
$65.2 $65.2
-2.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.46 $43.46
$76.7 $76.7
-43.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.73 $15.73
$14.93 $14.93
5.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$957 $957
$2,063 $2,063
-53.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 $50.6
$64.3 $64.3
-21.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.41 $34.41
$52.4 $52.4
-34.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96 $96
$95.2 $95.2
0.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.61 $49.61
$145 $145
-65.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$867 $867
$2,378 $2,378
-63.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,364 $1,364
$1,584 $1,584
-13.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 $1,277
$4,763 $4,763
-73.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,036 $1,036
$2,815 $2,815
-63.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,110 $2,110
$3,588 $3,588
-41.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,103 $2,103
$2,490 $2,490
-15.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lake City, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,969 $5,969
$5,275 $5,275
13.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
6.6
-5.30%

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

Last update for Lake City, FL: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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