Cost of Living Comparison Between Bismarck, ND and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bismarck, ND and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Bismarck, ND is 9.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bismarck, ND is 16.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$41.71 $41.71
$20.82 $20.82
100.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7 $73.7
$100 $100
-26.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.62 $14.62
$11.97 $11.97
22.14%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$5.56 $5.56
-9.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$3.11 $3.11
-25.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.42 $2.42
-25.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$6.86 $6.86
-12.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.45 $8.45
-18.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.6 $2.6
$4.15 $4.15
-37.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$5.52 $5.52
-21.92%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$4.65 $4.65
-10.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 $12.04
$14.33 $14.33
-15.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.88 $14.88
-3.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.59 $15.59
$19.34 $19.34
-19.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$5.17 $5.17
-3.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.41 $4.41
-1.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.51 $4.51
6.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.9 $2.9
$2.53 $2.53
14.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.74 $2.74
2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.43 $2.43
-13.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.7 $2.7
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.38 $8.38
$15.19 $15.19
-44.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.75 $14.75
$16.42 $16.42
-10.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.35 $2.35
-21.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.7 $3.7
-8.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.4 $3.4
$3.34 $3.34
1.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.42 $1.42
15.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.34 $29.34
$25.42 $25.42
15.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.9 $70.9
$63.7 $63.7
11.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.9 $90.9
$65.2 $65.2
39.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.78 $43.78
$76.7 $76.7
-42.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 $13.53
$14.93 $14.93
-9.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,317 $1,317
$2,063 $2,063
-36.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 $50.6
$64.3 $64.3
-21.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.7 $40.7
$52.4 $52.4
-22.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.5 $66.5
$95.2 $95.2
-30.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 $1,204
$2,378 $2,378
-49.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$984 $984
$1,584 $1,584
-37.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$4,763 $4,763
-66.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 $1,157
$2,815 $2,815
-58.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,029 $2,029
$3,588 $3,588
-43.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,000 $2,000
$2,490 $2,490
-19.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bismarck, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,732 $3,732
$5,275 $5,275
-29.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.13
6.6
8.03%

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

Last update for Bismarck, ND: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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