Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between The Villages, FL and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in The Villages, FL: $2,190 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

106

Cost of Living Index in The Villages, FL
Learn more

The Villages, FL Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

The Villages, FL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,190

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,190 per month in The Villages, FL vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

The Villages, FL $2,190
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,452 per month in The Villages, FL vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

The Villages, FL $3,452
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,714 per month in The Villages, FL vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

The Villages, FL $4,714
Chicago, IL $6,115

The Villages, FL is about 30% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both The Villages, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – The Villages, FL by 62%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.08 $12.08

$20.65 $20.65

-41.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.2 $75.2

$90.2 $90.2

-16.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.71 $8.71

$12.94 $12.94

-32.69%

Cappuccino

$4.45 $4.45

$5.60 $5.60

-20.54%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$2.64 $2.64

-2.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.27 $2.27

8.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.98 $6.98

-28.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$8.83 $8.83

-19.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.27 $1.27

-19.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.80 $3.80

-6.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.30 $5.30

-18.68%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.76 $4.76

-10.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 $12.54

$13.96 $13.96

-10.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$14.61 $14.61

-21.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.25 $17.25

$18.77 $18.77

-8.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.19 $5.19

-5.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.98 $1.98

-34.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.93 $3.93

11.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$4.96 $4.96

-3.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.76 $2.76

10.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.76 $2.76

-2.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.22 $2.22

-1.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.98 $2.98

-19.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.05 $10.05

$14.02 $14.02

-28.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$15.28 $15.28

-0.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.58 $2.58

-16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.50 $3.50

4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.47 $2.47

-22.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.34 $3.34

-7.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.43 $1.43

29.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.49 $26.49

$24.32 $24.32

8.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.26 $1.26

-30.16%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-27.45%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

-4.79%

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

$195 $195

$193 $193

1.43%

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

$59.2 $59.2

$68.3 $68.3

-13.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$61.3 $61.3

13.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.22 $41.22

$54.1 $54.1

-23.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.72 $13.72

$17.74 $17.74

-22.66%

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

$1,260 $1,260

$1,652 $1,652

-23.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$31.1K $31.1K

-28.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 $53.9

$66.1 $66.1

-18.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.33 $41.33

$51.2 $51.2

-19.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 $84.9

$100 $100

-15.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$141 $141

-17.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 $1,426

$2,446 $2,446

-41.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,008 $1,008

$1,678 $1,678

-39.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,785 $2,785

$4,717 $4,717

-40.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,096 $2,096

$2,795 $2,795

-25.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,721 $2,721

$4,105 $4,105

-33.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,336 $2,336

$2,650 $2,650

-11.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,414 $6,414

$4,866 $4,866

31.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

6.81

-4.99%

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

Last update for The Villages, FL: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

The Villages, FL

$1K 46%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 66.5% $670

Groceries & Markets

The Villages, FL

$401 18.3%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 12.1% $49

Monthly Utilities & Internet

The Villages, FL

$325 14.8%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 0.7% $2.3

Eating Out

The Villages, FL

$235 10.7%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 46% $108

Clothing & Footwear

The Villages, FL

$133 6.1%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 21.1% $28

Sport & Entertainment

The Villages, FL

$69 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 30.5% $21

Getting Around

The Villages, FL

$20 * 0.9%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 377% $75

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,426 in The Villages, 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 32% higher in The Villages, 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 $75.0 in The Villages, FL versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $449 – making The Villages, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 The Villages, FL

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

08:25 8:25 AM

07:25 7:25 AM

1 h behind The Villages, FL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,077

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

The Villages, FL Chicago, IL 1,530 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

The Villages, 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

The Villages, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,190 in The Villages, FL, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 43% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,285 per month in The Villages, 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 The Villages, 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 $75.0 in The Villages, 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 12% 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.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in The Villages, FL, where all-in costs run around $2,190, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In The Villages, FL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,190 in The Villages, FL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with The Villages, 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.