Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Weston, FL: $2,614 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Weston, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,614
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,614 per month in Weston, FL vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Weston, FL $2,614
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,259 per month in Weston, FL vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Weston, FL $4,259
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,903 per month in Weston, FL vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Weston, FL $5,903
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Weston, FL is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Weston, FL and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Weston, FL by 93%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.65 $25.65
$20.65 $20.65
24.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.0 $75.0
$90.2 $90.2
-16.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.21 $8.21
$12.94 $12.94
-36.55%
Cappuccino
$4.34 $4.34
$5.60 $5.60
-22.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$2.64 $2.64
-62.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.27 $2.27
-16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.23 $5.23
$6.98 $6.98
-25.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.39 $7.39
$8.83 $8.83
-16.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.27 $1.27
-33.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.35 $4.35
$3.80 $3.80
14.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$5.30 $5.30
-42.08%
Eggs
$5.73 $5.73
$4.76 $4.76
20.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.00 $13.00
$13.96 $13.96
-6.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.35 $11.35
$14.61 $14.61
-22.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.92 $14.92
$18.77 $18.77
-20.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$5.19 $5.19
-9.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.98 $1.98
-23.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$3.93 $3.93
10.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$4.96 $4.96
9.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.76 $2.76
7.25%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.76 $2.76
20.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.22 $2.22
3.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.98 $2.98
-13.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10 $9.10
$14.02 $14.02
-35.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.54 $12.54
$15.28 $15.28
-17.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.58 $2.58
-20.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.50 $3.50
-5.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.14 $5.14
$2.47 $2.47
108.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.96 $24.96
$74.8 $74.8
-66.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$3.34 $3.34
-9.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.43 $1.43
26.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$24.32 $24.32
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.26 $1.26
-18.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$35.0K $35.0K
-19.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$26.1K $26.1K
3.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 $167
$193 $193
-13.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 $25.16
$68.3 $68.3
-63.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.4 $61.4
$61.3 $61.3
0.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.59 $35.59
$54.1 $54.1
-34.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.93 $34.93
$27.92 $27.92
25.11%
Cinema Ticket
$12.54 $12.54
$17.74 $17.74
-29.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$893 $893
$1,652 $1,652
-45.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K $15.2K
$31.1K $31.1K
-51.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 $51.0
$66.1 $66.1
-22.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7 $50.7
$51.2 $51.2
-0.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 $98.0
$100 $100
-2.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$141 $141
-9.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 $1,749
$2,446 $2,446
-28.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$1,678 $1,678
-19.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,428 $3,428
$4,717 $4,717
-27.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,016 $3,016
$2,795 $2,795
7.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,429 $5,429
$4,105 $4,105
32.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,377 $4,377
$2,650 $2,650
65.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Weston, FL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,759 $6,759
$4,866 $4,866
38.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.86
6.81
0.73%

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

Last update for Weston, FL: October 17, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Weston, FL
$1.4K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 23.6% $321
Groceries & Markets
Weston, FL
$403
Chicago, IL
$449 11.6% $47
Eating Out
Weston, FL
$334
Chicago, IL
$343 2.7% $9.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Weston, FL
$254
Chicago, IL
$322 26.9% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Weston, FL
$148
Chicago, IL
$161 9.3% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Weston, FL
$61
Chicago, IL
$90 47.7% $29
Getting Around
Weston, FL
$58
Chicago, IL
$95 65.1% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,749 in Weston, 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 39% higher in Weston, 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 Weston, FL versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $449 – making Weston, FL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Weston, FL
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
14:29 2:29 PM
13:29 1:29 PM
1 h behind Weston, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
69,959
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Weston, FL Chicago, IL 1,870 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Weston, 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
Weston, FL vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Weston, FL and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,614 in Weston, FL, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 20% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Weston, FL compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,921 per month in Weston, FL and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Weston, FL and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Weston, FL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Weston, FL and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,614 in Weston, FL and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Weston, FL and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,614 in Weston, FL to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Weston, FL and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Weston, 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.

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