Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Bemidji, MN: $2,544 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

124

Cost of Living Index in Bemidji, MN
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Bemidji, MN Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Bemidji, MN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,544

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,544 per month in Bemidji, MN vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bemidji, MN $2,544
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,762 per month in Bemidji, MN vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bemidji, MN $3,762
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,979 per month in Bemidji, MN vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bemidji, MN $4,979
Chicago, IL $6,115

Bemidji, MN is about 19% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Bemidji, MN and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Bemidji, MN by 88%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.32 $20.32

$20.65 $20.65

-1.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.4 $74.4

$90.2 $90.2

-17.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.30 $11.30

$12.94 $12.94

-12.67%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.60 $5.60

-6.43%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.64 $2.64

-1.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.27 $2.27

-13.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.98 $6.98

-13.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 $7.36

$8.83 $8.83

-16.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.27 $1.27

-19.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.80 $3.80

-8.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.30 $5.30

-17.92%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$4.76 $4.76

-20.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 $11.71

$13.96 $13.96

-16.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.70 $11.70

$14.61 $14.61

-19.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$18.77 $18.77

-9.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$5.19 $5.19

6.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.98 $1.98

-28.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.93 $3.93

21.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.96 $4.96

-0.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.76 $2.76

-2.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.76 $2.76

1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.22 $2.22

1.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.98 $2.98

-27.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.26 $11.26

$14.02 $14.02

-19.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$15.28 $15.28

-3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.58 $2.58

-32.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.50 $3.50

-16.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.47 $2.47

-18.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.34 $3.34

-11.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.43 $1.43

29.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.75 $29.75

$24.32 $24.32

22.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.26 $1.26

-39.68%

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

$32.1K $32.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-8.36%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

-4.64%

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

$199 $199

$193 $193

3.38%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$68.3 $68.3

-10.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.8 $68.8

$61.3 $61.3

12.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.30 $42.30

$54.1 $54.1

-21.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 $12.82

$17.74 $17.74

-27.73%

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

$1,426 $1,426

$1,652 $1,652

-13.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$31.1K $31.1K

-26.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.82 $47.82

$66.1 $66.1

-27.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.77 $39.77

$51.2 $51.2

-22.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

0.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$141 $141

-27.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,625 $1,625

$2,446 $2,446

-33.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,279 $1,279

$1,678 $1,678

-23.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,501 $2,501

$4,717 $4,717

-46.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$2,795 $2,795

-21.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,772 $2,772

$4,105 $4,105

-32.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,391 $2,391

$2,650 $2,650

-9.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.81

-3.52%

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

Last update for Bemidji, MN: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Bemidji, MN

$1.3K 50.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 31.1% $398

Groceries & Markets

Bemidji, MN

$395 15.5%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 13.9% $55

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bemidji, MN

$329 12.9%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 2% $6.5

Eating Out

Bemidji, MN

$323 12.7%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 6.5% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Bemidji, MN

$131 5.1%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 23.3% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Bemidji, MN

$68 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 31.9% $22

Getting Around

Bemidji, MN

$20 * 0.8%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 370% $75

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,625 in Bemidji, MN 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Bemidji, MN versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $449 – making Bemidji, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Bemidji, MN

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

04:33 4:33 AM

Same time as Bemidji, MN

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

13,431

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Bemidji, MN Chicago, IL 850 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Bemidji, MN
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

Bemidji, MN vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Bemidji, MN, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,816 per month in Bemidji, MN 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 Bemidji, MN, 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 $74.0 in Bemidji, MN 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 14% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,544 in Bemidji, MN and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bemidji, MN costs $2,544 versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bemidji, MN. 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.