Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New Smyrna Beach, FL and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in New Smyrna Beach, FL: $2,760 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

133

Cost of Living Index in New Smyrna Beach, FL
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New Smyrna Beach, FL Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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New Smyrna Beach, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,760

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,760 per month in New Smyrna Beach, FL vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

New Smyrna Beach, FL $2,760
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,921 per month in New Smyrna Beach, FL vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

New Smyrna Beach, FL $3,921
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,082 per month in New Smyrna Beach, FL vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

New Smyrna Beach, FL $5,082
Chicago, IL $6,115

New Smyrna Beach, FL is about 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both New Smyrna Beach, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – New Smyrna Beach, FL by 104%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.84 $19.84

$20.65 $20.65

-3.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$90.2 $90.2

-11.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.33 $11.33

$12.94 $12.94

-12.44%

Cappuccino

$5.93 $5.93

$5.60 $5.60

5.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.64 $2.64

15.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.27 $2.27

-4.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.02 $7.02

$6.98 $6.98

0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.83 $8.83

-22.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.27 $1.27

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$3.80 $3.80

-12.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$5.30 $5.30

-53.40%

Eggs

$4.36 $4.36

$4.76 $4.76

-8.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 $11.84

$13.96 $13.96

-15.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.69 $9.69

$14.61 $14.61

-33.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.15 $16.15

$18.77 $18.77

-13.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$5.19 $5.19

15.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.98 $1.98

-25.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.93 $3.93

1.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$4.96 $4.96

-7.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.76 $2.76

-8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.76 $2.76

5.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.22 $2.22

-34.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.98 $2.98

-38.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.83 $8.83

$14.02 $14.02

-37.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.36 $13.36

$15.28 $15.28

-12.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.58 $2.58

-19.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.50 $3.50

-13.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.34 $3.34

-55.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.43 $1.43

-17.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.74 $13.74

$24.32 $24.32

-43.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.26 $1.26

-20.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K $28.3K

$35.0K $35.0K

-19.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

1.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$190 $190

$193 $193

-1.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.3 $63.3

$68.3 $68.3

-7.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$61.3 $61.3

11.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.54 $24.54

$54.1 $54.1

-54.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 $13.59

$17.74 $17.74

-23.39%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$630 $630

$1,652 $1,652

-61.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.1K $12.1K

$31.1K $31.1K

-60.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$66.1 $66.1

-18.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.18 $48.18

$51.2 $51.2

-5.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$100 $100

-15.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$141 $141

-18.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 $1,626

$2,446 $2,446

-33.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,545 $1,545

$1,678 $1,678

-7.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,460 $2,460

$4,717 $4,717

-47.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,363 $2,363

$2,795 $2,795

-15.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,704 $2,704

$4,105 $4,105

-34.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,381 $2,381

$2,650 $2,650

-10.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,531 $7,531

$4,866 $4,866

54.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.69

6.81

-1.76%

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

Last update for New Smyrna Beach, 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

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$1.5K 56%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 8.6% $132

Groceries & Markets

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$366 13.2%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 23% $84

Eating Out

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$334 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 3% $9.9

Monthly Utilities & Internet

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$321 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 0.4% $1.2

Clothing & Footwear

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$136 4.9%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 18.9% $26

Sport & Entertainment

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$52 1.9%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 73.3% $38

Getting Around

New Smyrna Beach, FL

$7.4 * 0.3%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 1191% $88

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,626 in New Smyrna Beach, 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 55% higher in New Smyrna Beach, FL, 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 $80.0 in New Smyrna Beach, FL versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $449 – making New Smyrna Beach, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 New Smyrna Beach, FL

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

06:52 6:52 AM

05:52 5:52 AM

1 h behind New Smyrna Beach, FL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

30,142

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

New Smyrna Beach, FL Chicago, IL 1,550 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

New Smyrna Beach, 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

New Smyrna Beach, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,760 in New Smyrna Beach, FL, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 14% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,140 per month in New Smyrna Beach, FL and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in New Smyrna Beach, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in New Smyrna Beach, FL and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,760 in New Smyrna Beach, FL and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,760 in New Smyrna Beach, FL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with New Smyrna Beach, FL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.