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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,555 in Bemidji, MN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,707 in Bemidji, MN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,859 in Bemidji, MN, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Bemidji, MN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Bemidji, MN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Bemidji, MN by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$14.70 $14.70

41.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$65.9 $65.9

49.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.17 $11.17

6.54%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.94 $4.94

18.22%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.56 $2.56

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.03 $2.03

15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.16 $5.16

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.67 $6.67

20.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.98 $0.98

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.04 $2.04

95.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.23 $4.23

32.39%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.08 $4.08

11.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.17 $12.17

16.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.62 $11.62

28.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.18 $15.18

25.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.93 $4.93

7.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.30 $4.30

-1.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.75 $4.75

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.79 $2.79

-8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.89 $2.89

-3.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.12 $2.12

16.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.69 $9.69

54.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$15.26 $15.26

-3.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.85 $1.85

28.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.42 $3.42

4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.98 $1.98

23.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.59 $3.59

-6.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.59 $1.59

-13.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.44 $29.44

-14.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.88 $0.88

23.86%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.8K $29.8K

8.22%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.73%

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

$188 $188

$186 $186

1.38%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$53.8 $53.8

17.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$86.2 $86.2

-23.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.11 $43.11

75.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.72 $13.72

7.87%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,307 $1,307

60.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.0K $23.0K

67.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.2 $50.2

29.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.41 $40.41

27.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$86.9 $86.9

10.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$110 $110

33.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,605 $1,605

45.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,331 $1,331

18.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,471 $1,471

224.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,196 $2,196

24.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,707 $2,707

48.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,378 $2,378

12.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Bemidji, MN: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,605 in Bemidji, MN. 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $66.0 in Bemidji, MN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $374 – making Bemidji, MN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Bemidji, MN, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,832 in Bemidji, MN. 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $66.0 in Bemidji, MN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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 $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,555 in Bemidji, MN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bemidji, MN costs $2,555 versus $3,084 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.