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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,052 in Butte, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,119 in Butte, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,187 in Butte, MT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 50% more than Butte, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Butte, MT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Butte, MT by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$14.95 $14.95

39.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$75.5 $75.5

30.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.90 $10.90

9.17%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.97 $4.97

17.51%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.60 $2.60

18.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.91 $5.91

16.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.06 $7.06

14.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.22 $1.22

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.39 $2.39

66.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.05 $5.05

10.89%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.10 $4.10

10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.18 $12.18

16.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$7.36 $7.36

102.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.35 $15.35

24.30%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.92 $4.92

7.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.64 $1.64

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.36 $4.36

-2.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.65 $4.65

-6.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.83 $2.83

-9.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.22 $2.22

26.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.75 $1.75

41.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.17 $2.17

24.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$7.85 $7.85

90.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$9.32 $9.32

58.05%

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

$2.29 $2.29

55.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.06 $2.06

18.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.41 $3.41

-1.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.66 $1.66

-17.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$29.22 $29.22

-13.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.05 $1.05

3.81%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.4K $29.4K

9.97%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.75%

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

$188 $188

$187 $187

0.77%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$51.8 $51.8

22.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.0 $68.0

-2.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.88 $42.88

76.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.71 $13.71

7.95%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,292 $1,292

62.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.4K $23.4K

64.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$50.3 $50.3

28.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.70 $39.70

29.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$85.5 $85.5

12.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$113 $113

29.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,014 $1,014

129.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$874 $874

80.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,797 $1,797

165.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,611 $1,611

69.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,326 $2,326

72.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,313 $2,313

16.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,860 $3,860

29.03%

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 Butte, MT: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,014 in Butte, 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 29% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Butte, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $346 – making Butte, MT 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 Butte, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 50% more than Butte, MT, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,077 in Butte, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Butte, MT, 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 $75.0 in Butte, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Butte, MT, where all-in costs run around $2,052, than in Chicago, IL at $3,084. In Butte, MT it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Butte, MT costs $2,052 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 Butte, MT. 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.