Cost of Living Comparison Between West Palm Beach, FL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between West Palm Beach, FL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: West Palm Beach, FL is 22.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: West Palm Beach, FL is 1.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.98 $22.98
$20.82 $20.82
10.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 $89.9
$100 $100
-10.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 $10.17
$11.97 $11.97
-15.04%
Cappuccino
$5.15 $5.15
$5.56 $5.56
-7.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$3.11 $3.11
-10.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.42 $2.42
-21.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$6.86 $6.86
-10.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$8.45 $8.45
-19.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.04 $1.04
1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 $2.87
$4.15 $4.15
-30.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$5.52 $5.52
-6.88%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$4.65 $4.65
-4.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.54 $15.54
$14.33 $14.33
8.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.53 $11.53
$14.88 $14.88
-22.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.46 $15.46
$19.34 $19.34
-20.06%
Apples (1kg)
$4.56 $4.56
$5.17 $5.17
-11.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.71 $1.71
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.45 $5.45
$4.41 $4.41
23.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.49 $5.49
$4.51 $4.51
21.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.53 $2.53
49.01%
Onion (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$2.74 $2.74
39.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.43 $2.43
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.7 $2.7
-8.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.61 $5.61
$15.19 $15.19
-63.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.79 $12.79
$16.42 $16.42
-22.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$3.7 $3.7
-42.43%
🚌 Getting Around
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.3 $69.3
$74.1 $74.1
-6.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.34 $3.34
-26.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.42 $1.42
31.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.43 $30.43
$25.42 $25.42
19.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
9.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 $171
$188 $188
-8.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.23 $46.23
$63.7 $63.7
-27.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$65.2 $65.2
-9.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 $48.79
$76.7 $76.7
-36.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.06 $40.06
$13.03 $13.03
207.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.64 $14.64
$14.93 $14.93
-1.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$854 $854
$2,063 $2,063
-58.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.2K $40.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
2.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$64.3 $64.3
-19.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.56 $34.56
$52.4 $52.4
-34.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 $79.1
$95.2 $95.2
-16.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 $100
$145 $145
-30.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,347 $2,347
$2,378 $2,378
-1.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,758 $1,758
$1,584 $1,584
10.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,959 $3,959
$4,763 $4,763
-16.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,192 $3,192
$2,815 $2,815
13.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,460 $4,460
$3,588 $3,588
24.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,162 $4,162
$2,490 $2,490
67.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
West Palm Beach, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,249 $4,249
$5,275 $5,275
-19.46%
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 West Palm Beach, FL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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