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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Sarasota, FL is 11.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Sarasota, FL is 1.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.93 $19.93
$20.82 $20.82
-4.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.1 $91.1
$100 $100
-9.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.8 $9.8
$11.97 $11.97
-18.13%
Cappuccino
$5.5 $5.5
$5.56 $5.56
-1.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$3.11 $3.11
0.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.42 $2.42
11.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$6.86 $6.86
-12.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$8.45 $8.45
-4.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.04 $1.04
10.58%
White Bread (500g)
$3.85 $3.85
$4.15 $4.15
-7.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$5.52 $5.52
-24.64%
Eggs
$4.53 $4.53
$4.65 $4.65
-2.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.88 $12.88
$14.33 $14.33
-10.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.21 $17.21
$14.88 $14.88
15.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.29 $22.29
$19.34 $19.34
15.25%
Apples (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$5.17 $5.17
10.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.71 $1.71
-4.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$4.41 $4.41
-17.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.51 $4.51
23.50%
Potato (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$2.53 $2.53
67.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.74 $2.74
18.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.43 $2.43
3.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.7 $2.7
-14.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.93 $7.93
$15.19 $15.19
-47.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.91 $11.91
$16.42 $16.42
-27.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.35 $2.35
-8.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 $4.49
$3.7 $3.7
21.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 $2.39
$3.34 $3.34
-28.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.42 $1.42
12.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.85 $28.85
$25.42 $25.42
13.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.89%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$188 $188
-14.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.1 $47.1
$63.7 $63.7
-26.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$65.2 $65.2
10.54%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.28 $43.28
$76.7 $76.7
-43.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.53 $17.53
$13.03 $13.03
34.54%
Cinema Ticket
$15.15 $15.15
$14.93 $14.93
1.47%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,088 $1,088
$2,063 $2,063
-47.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K $18.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
-53.32%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60 $60
$64.3 $64.3
-6.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.96 $43.96
$52.4 $52.4
-16.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$95.2 $95.2
27.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 $132
$145 $145
-8.95%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,123 $2,123
$2,378 $2,378
-10.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,865 $1,865
$1,584 $1,584
17.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,675 $3,675
$4,763 $4,763
-22.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,014 $3,014
$2,815 $2,815
7.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,480 $3,480
$3,588 $3,588
-3.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,874 $2,874
$2,490 $2,490
15.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Sarasota, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,742 $3,742
$5,275 $5,275
-29.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
6.6
0.45%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sarasota, FL: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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