Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pembroke Pines, FL and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,533 in Pembroke Pines, FL, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Pembroke Pines, FL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

169

Cost of Living Index in Pembroke Pines, FL
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Pembroke Pines, FL Living Index
147

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

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Pembroke Pines, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,533

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,533 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Pembroke Pines, FL $3,533
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,922 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Pembroke Pines, FL $4,922
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $6,310 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Pembroke Pines, FL $6,310
Chicago, IL $5,999

Pembroke Pines, FL costs about 16% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Pembroke Pines, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Pembroke Pines, FL by 160%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.52 $30.52

$20.71 $20.71

47.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.2 $94.2

$89.2 $89.2

5.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.91 $14.91

$13.19 $13.19

13.04%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$5.66 $5.66

-5.30%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$2.64 $2.64

-3.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.28 $2.28

-8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$6.87 $6.87

-13.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.92 $6.92

$8.84 $8.84

-21.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.25 $1.25

-17.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.72 $3.72

-15.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$5.39 $5.39

-39.89%

Eggs

$4.60 $4.60

$4.74 $4.74

-2.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$13.84 $13.84

-5.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$14.40 $14.40

-14.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.86 $19.86

$18.38 $18.38

8.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$5.22 $5.22

-8.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.98 $1.98

1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.06 $4.06

-0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.62 $5.62

$4.97 $4.97

13.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.67 $2.67

6.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.66 $2.66

19.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.24 $2.24

16.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$3.13 $3.13

-42.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.16 $9.16

$13.82 $13.82

-33.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.12 $13.12

$14.88 $14.88

-11.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.54 $2.54

18.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$3.51 $3.51

-40.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.43 $2.43

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.68 $45.68

$73.5 $73.5

-37.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.18 $3.18

28.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.39 $1.39

35.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.29 $24.29

$25.03 $25.03

-2.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.20 $1.20

-15.83%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-19.91%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

0.71%

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

$224 $224

$194 $194

15.07%

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

$66.7 $66.7

$69.5 $69.5

-3.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.7 $81.7

$61.6 $61.6

32.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.65 $28.65

$47.90 $47.90

-40.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 $13.40

$17.81 $17.81

-24.76%

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

$1,026 $1,026

$1,794 $1,794

-42.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.7K $41.7K

$31.9K $31.9K

30.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.68 $47.68

$67.0 $67.0

-28.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.33 $41.33

$52.1 $52.1

-20.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$102 $102

6.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$144 $144

-19.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,146 $2,146

$2,526 $2,526

-15.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,073 $2,073

$1,578 $1,578

31.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,082 $3,082

$4,738 $4,738

-34.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,035 $3,035

$2,693 $2,693

12.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,452 $2,452

$4,190 $4,190

-41.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,517 $3,517

$2,768 $2,768

27.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,344 $4,344

$4,931 $4,931

-11.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.81

-3.67%

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

Last update for Pembroke Pines, FL: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Pembroke Pines, FL

$2.1K 58.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 23.9% $495

Eating Out

Pembroke Pines, FL

$415 11.8%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 16.9% $70

Groceries & Markets

Pembroke Pines, FL

$406 11.5%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 10.2% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pembroke Pines, FL

$372 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 12.5% $47

Clothing & Footwear

Pembroke Pines, FL

$140 4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 16.8% $24

Getting Around

Pembroke Pines, FL

$71 2%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 31.4% $22

Sport & Entertainment

Pembroke Pines, FL

$55 1.6%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 50.6% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,146 in Pembroke Pines, FL versus $2,526 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 13% 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 $94 in Pembroke Pines, FL versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $406 in Pembroke Pines, FL vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Pembroke Pines, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Pembroke Pines, FL

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

17:22 5:22 PM

16:22 4:22 PM

1 h behind Pembroke Pines, FL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

150,064

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Pembroke Pines, FL Chicago, IL 1,890 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Pembroke Pines, 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

Pembroke Pines, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,533 in Pembroke Pines, FL, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,300 per month in Pembroke Pines, FL and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pembroke Pines, FL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,146 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Pembroke Pines, FL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94 in Pembroke Pines, FL and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,533 in Pembroke Pines, FL and $3,037 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,533 in Pembroke Pines, FL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.