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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,324 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,882 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $6,440 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 6% cheaper than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Bozeman, MT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Bozeman, MT by 149%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$27.23 $27.23

-25.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

0.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$14.26 $14.26

-15.22%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.79 $5.79

-0.69%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$3.52 $3.52

-15.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.71 $2.71

-9.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$7.02 $7.02

0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$7.02 $7.02

17.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.17 $1.17

-7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.96 $4.96

-16.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$6.09 $6.09

-11.66%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$6.06 $6.06

-25.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$22.08 $22.08

-35.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$12.06 $12.06

24.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$20.07 $20.07

-6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.57 $4.57

12.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.53 $1.53

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.32 $3.32

27.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.56 $3.56

24.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.80 $1.80

42.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.64 $1.64

66.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.29 $2.29

10.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.20 $1.20

118.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$8.83 $8.83

68.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.78 $17.78

-14.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.78 $1.78

38.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.77 $2.77

35.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.96 $1.96

26.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.55 $2.55

29.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.41 $1.41

-3.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$28.74 $28.74

-12.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.80 $0.80

31.25%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$30.2K $30.2K

7.96%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.98%

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

$187 $187

$159 $159

17.69%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$50.9 $50.9

25.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$89.9 $89.9

-26.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$62.4 $62.4

23.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

$29.60 $29.60

-56.35%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$13.76 $13.76

10.10%

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

$2,029 $2,029

$1,179 $1,179

72.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$32.2K $32.2K

20.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$65.6 $65.6

-3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$32.80 $32.80

58.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$121 $121

-20.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$99.3 $99.3

48.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$2,460 $2,460

-4.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$1,915 $1,915

-15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$3,945 $3,945

16.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$3,056 $3,056

-9.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$6,108 $6,108

-35.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$5,915 $5,915

-56.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

$4,348 $4,348

19.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 14, 2026

Last update for Bozeman, MT: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $2,460 in Bozeman, MT. 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 19% 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 Chicago, IL versus $101 in Bozeman, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Chicago, IL vs $442 in Bozeman, MT – 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

Chicago, IL vs Bozeman, MT: 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 $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,987 in Bozeman, MT. 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 Chicago, IL and $101 in Bozeman, MT. 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $3,324 in Bozeman, MT. 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.