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

🙂 Solo nomad: Melbourne, FL is 18.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Melbourne, FL is 27.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.38 $25.38
$20.82 $20.82
21.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1 $76.1
$100 $100
-24.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.64 $9.64
$11.97 $11.97
-19.47%
Cappuccino
$4.92 $4.92
$5.56 $5.56
-11.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.11 $3.11
-10.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.42 $2.42
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 $6.09
$6.86 $6.86
-11.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.56 $6.56
$8.45 $8.45
-22.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.04 $1.04
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 $3.82
$4.15 $4.15
-7.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$5.52 $5.52
-50.54%
Eggs
$3.76 $3.76
$4.65 $4.65
-19.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.64 $11.64
$14.33 $14.33
-18.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.2 $8.2
$14.88 $14.88
-44.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$19.34 $19.34
-24.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$5.17 $5.17
-9.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.71 $1.71
-7.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.6 $3.6
$4.41 $4.41
-18.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$4.51 $4.51
15.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.53 $2.53
3.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.74 $2.74
26.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.43 $2.43
-6.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.7 $2.7
-24.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.56 $9.56
$15.19 $15.19
-37.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$16.42 $16.42
-7.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 $2.84
$3.7 $3.7
-23.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.53 $2.53
48.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 $41.9
$74.1 $74.1
-43.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.34 $3.34
35.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 $0.61
$1.42 $1.42
-57.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.89 $21.89
$25.42 $25.42
-13.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K $23.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-27.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$188 $188
-9.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$63.7 $63.7
-10.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.6 $62.6
$65.2 $65.2
-4.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.4 $71.4
$76.7 $76.7
-6.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.94 $1.94
$13.03 $13.03
-85.11%
Cinema Ticket
$12.88 $12.88
$14.93 $14.93
-13.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$899 $899
$2,063 $2,063
-56.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K $16.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-58.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.58 $46.58
$64.3 $64.3
-27.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 $44.57
$52.4 $52.4
-14.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 $88.3
$95.2 $95.2
-7.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2 $95.2
$145 $145
-34.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 $1,641
$2,378 $2,378
-30.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 $1,592
$1,584 $1,584
0.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,983 $2,983
$4,763 $4,763
-37.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,282 $2,282
$2,815 $2,815
-18.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,300 $3,300
$3,588 $3,588
-8.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,542 $2,542
$2,490 $2,490
2.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Melbourne, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,785 $3,785
$5,275 $5,275
-28.24%
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 Melbourne, FL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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