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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,033 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,169 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,305 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 53% more than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Fargo, ND by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$14.73 $14.73

38.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$50.4 $50.4

94.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.21 $11.21

7.67%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.15 $5.15

11.26%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.55 $2.55

16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.05 $2.05

20.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.98 $5.98

16.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$8.26 $8.26

-0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.21 $1.21

-13.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.52 $3.52

15.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.80 $5.80

-5.17%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.12 $4.12

12.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.35 $12.35

16.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$14.76 $14.76

2.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$18.97 $18.97

1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$8.37 $8.37

-38.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.74 $2.74

-35.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$6.62 $6.62

-34.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.81 $4.81

-9.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.73 $3.73

-34.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.50 $3.50

-20.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.02 $2.02

24.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.62 $2.62

1.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.14 $9.14

63.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$19.07 $19.07

-21.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.63 $2.63

-6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.92 $4.92

-28.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.53 $1.53

58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$41.46 $41.46

79.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.47 $4.47

-25.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.57 $1.57

-12.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$29.17 $29.17

-13.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$33.5K $33.5K

-4.91%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.60%

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

$187 $187

$161 $161

16.28%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$53.4 $53.4

18.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$56.5 $56.5

16.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$54.5 $54.5

39.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.62 $13.62

8.66%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,256 $1,256

61.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.3K $23.3K

67.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$50.1 $50.1

27.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$46.00 $46.00

12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$90.6 $90.6

5.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$109 $109

32.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$954 $954

143.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$756 $756

112.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,603 $2,603

80.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$1,527 $1,527

78.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$1,751 $1,751

118.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$1,745 $1,745

45.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$3,717 $3,717

37.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $954 in Fargo, ND. 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 37% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $50.0 in Fargo, ND. Groceries tell a different story – $448 in Chicago, IL vs $482 in Fargo, ND – so Chicago, IL 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 Fargo, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,033 in Fargo, ND – roughly 53% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,049 in Fargo, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fargo, ND, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $50.0 in Fargo, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fargo, ND, where all-in costs run around $2,033, than in Chicago, IL at $3,111. In Fargo, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,033 in Fargo, ND to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Fargo, ND. 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.