Cost of Living Comparison Between Bozeman, MT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bozeman, MT and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,303 per month in Bozeman, MT vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,802 per month in Bozeman, MT vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,301 per month in Bozeman, MT vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Bozeman, MT costs about 7% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bozeman, MT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Bozeman, MT by 146%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.04 $27.04

$20.91 $20.91

29.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$98.1 $98.1

3.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.25 $14.25

$11.86 $11.86

20.15%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$5.60 $5.60

0.18%

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

$3.46 $3.46

$3.07 $3.07

12.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.47 $2.47

6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.14 $7.14

-2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$8.08 $8.08

-15.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.05 $1.05

6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.11 $4.11

22.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.61 $5.61

8.02%

Eggs

$6.23 $6.23

$4.51 $4.51

38.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.61 $21.61

$14.27 $14.27

51.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$14.89 $14.89

-18.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.04 $20.04

$19.19 $19.19

4.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$5.14 $5.14

-12.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.77 $1.77

-14.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.39 $4.39

-24.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.56 $4.56

-19.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$2.54 $2.54

-26.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.75 $2.75

-42.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.42 $2.42

-6.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 $1.18

$2.62 $2.62

-54.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.92 $8.92

$14.92 $14.92

-40.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.38 $17.38

$14.80 $14.80

17.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.46 $2.46

-30.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.73 $3.73

-26.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.48 $2.48

-17.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.18 $3.18

-19.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.42 $1.42

-1.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.24 $29.24

$24.94 $24.94

17.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.06 $1.06

-17.92%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

-5.65%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.26%

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

$159 $159

$185 $185

-14.23%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$61.7 $61.7

-14.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.7 $88.7

$66.9 $66.9

32.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 $61.8

$75.2 $75.2

-17.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.57 $29.57

$13.08 $13.08

126.07%

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$14.71 $14.71

-5.78%

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

$1,155 $1,155

$2,020 $2,020

-42.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.3K $32.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

-17.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 $65.8

$64.6 $64.6

1.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.26 $32.26

$52.5 $52.5

-38.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$97.8 $97.8

23.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$148 $148

-31.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 $2,423

$2,313 $2,313

4.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,918 $1,918

$1,590 $1,590

20.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,916 $3,916

$4,608 $4,608

-15.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,072 $3,072

$2,779 $2,779

10.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,010 $6,010

$3,922 $3,922

53.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,811 $5,811

$2,613 $2,613

122.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,329 $4,329

$5,217 $5,217

-17.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.6

0.30%

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

Last update for Bozeman, MT: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,423 in Bozeman, MT versus $2,313 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 21% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $101 in Bozeman, MT versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $441 in Bozeman, MT vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Bozeman, MT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bozeman, MT vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bozeman, MT is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,954 per month in Bozeman, MT and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, 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 $101 in Bozeman, MT and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Bozeman, MT – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,303 in Bozeman, MT and $3,077 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Chicago, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bozeman, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.