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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26.1% more expensive than Billings, MT without rent, and 33.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 28.8% more expensive than Billings, MT without rent, and 31.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.39 $20.39
2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$59.1 $59.1
69.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.33 $14.33
-16.47%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.72 $5.72
-2.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.1 $2.1
48.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.67 $2.67
-9.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.62 $4.62
48.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.03 $5.03
67.99%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.25 $1.25
-16.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.46 $4.46
-6.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.14 $4.14
33.33%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.02 $3.02
53.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.34 $14.34
-0.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.55 $12.55
18.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.35 $16.35
18.29%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.33 $4.33
19.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.47 $1.47
16.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.97 $3.97
11.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.19 $6.19
-27.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.87 $1.87
35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.12 $3.12
-12.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.47 $2.47
-1.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.28 $1.28
110.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9 $9
68.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.93 $12.93
26.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.23 $2.23
5.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.87 $3.87
-4.39%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$27.55 $27.55
169.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.47 $2.47
35.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.63 $1.63
-12.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.56 $29.56
-14.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$21.9K $21.9K
47.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.55%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$154 $154
21.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.33 $49.33
29.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.7 $67.7
-3.75%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$49.12 $49.12
56.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.94 $13.94
7.10%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,003 $1,003
105.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$31.6K $31.6K
24.18%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$57.7 $57.7
11.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$67.2 $67.2
-21.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$101 $101
-5.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$125 $125
16.09%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,165 $1,165
104.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$929 $929
70.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,145 $2,145
122.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,862 $1,862
51.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,327 $2,327
54.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,090 $2,090
19.13%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Billings, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,031 $4,031
30.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.59
0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Billings, MT: October 28, 2025

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