Cost of Living Comparison Between Bemidji, MN and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bemidji, MN and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Bemidji, MN is 15.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bemidji, MN is 16.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.71 $14.71
$20.82 $20.82
-29.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.9 $63.9
$100 $100
-36.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 $10.96
$11.97 $11.97
-8.44%
Cappuccino
$4.86 $4.86
$5.56 $5.56
-12.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$2.42 $2.42
-14.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.1 $5.1
$6.86 $6.86
-25.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$8.45 $8.45
-21.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.04 $1.04
-2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.15 $4.15
-53.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$5.52 $5.52
-19.57%
Eggs
$4.13 $4.13
$4.65 $4.65
-11.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.44 $12.44
$14.33 $14.33
-13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 $11.36
$14.88 $14.88
-23.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.2 $15.2
$19.34 $19.34
-21.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$5.17 $5.17
-2.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.71 $1.71
-7.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.41 $4.41
-5.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$4.51 $4.51
3.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.53 $2.53
9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.74 $2.74
1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.43 $2.43
-14.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.31 $9.31
$15.19 $15.19
-38.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.11 $14.11
$16.42 $16.42
-14.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.35 $2.35
-22.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$3.7 $3.7
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.34 $3.34
3.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.28 $29.28
$25.42 $25.42
15.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$188 $188
-0.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 $53.2
$63.7 $63.7
-16.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.3 $85.3
$65.2 $65.2
30.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.49 $43.49
$76.7 $76.7
-43.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 $13.73
$14.93 $14.93
-8.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,314 $1,314
$2,063 $2,063
-36.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 $51.4
$64.3 $64.3
-20.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.25 $39.25
$52.4 $52.4
-25.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87 $87
$95.2 $95.2
-8.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,627 $1,627
$2,378 $2,378
-31.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 $1,374
$1,584 $1,584
-13.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,444 $1,444
$4,763 $4,763
-69.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,246 $2,246
$2,815 $2,815
-20.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,496 $2,496
$3,588 $3,588
-30.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,103 $2,103
$2,490 $2,490
-15.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bemidji, MN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,139 $5,139
$5,275 $5,275
-2.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Bemidji, MN: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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