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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,490 in Bismarck, ND.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,421 in Bismarck, ND.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,352 in Bismarck, ND.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 24% more expensive than in Bismarck, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Bismarck, ND 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$42.25 $42.25

-50.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$76.3 $76.3

29.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$14.83 $14.83

-19.76%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.04 $5.04

15.87%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.35 $2.35

30.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.92 $5.92

16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.05 $7.05

14.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.70 $2.70

47.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.43 $4.43

26.41%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.18 $4.18

8.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.41 $12.41

14.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$14.27 $14.27

4.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.19 $15.19

25.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.88 $4.88

8.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.64 $1.64

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.32 $4.32

-1.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.80 $4.80

-8.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.88 $2.88

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.89 $2.89

-3.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.21 $2.21

11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$8.07 $8.07

85.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$19.81 $19.81

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.86 $1.86

27.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.41 $3.41

4.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.04 $2.04

19.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.56 $3.56

-5.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.65 $1.65

-16.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.26 $29.26

-13.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

7.66%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.90%

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

$188 $188

$191 $191

-1.53%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$71.1 $71.1

-10.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$93.1 $93.1

-28.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$43.26 $43.26

74.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.42 $13.42

10.28%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,293 $1,293

62.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

63.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.2 $50.2

29.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$40.21 $40.21

28.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$67.7 $67.7

42.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$113 $113

29.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,221 $1,221

91.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,002 $1,002

57.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,573 $1,573

203.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,159 $1,159

135.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,070 $2,070

94.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,035 $2,035

31.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$4,612 $4,612

8.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

7.13

-7.43%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Bismarck, ND: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,221 in Bismarck, ND. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Bismarck, ND for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $407 per month, with Bismarck, ND cheaper across the board.

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 Bismarck, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Bismarck, ND differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $2,490 including rent). Bismarck, ND is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,221 in Bismarck, ND. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $1,293 in Bismarck, ND. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bismarck, ND – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bismarck, ND is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Bismarck, ND are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bismarck, ND gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.