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 $3,009 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,058 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,593 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,178 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,177 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,299 in Fargo, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 46% more than Fargo, ND, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Fargo, ND sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 125%, Fargo, ND by 54%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$14.84 $14.84

37.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$49.98 $49.98

103.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$11.05 $11.05

8.42%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$5.33 $5.33

6.94%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.64 $2.64

13.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.98 $1.98

24.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.72 $5.72

20.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$8.11 $8.11

-0.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.22 $1.22

-15.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.53 $3.53

11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.11 $6.11

-11.29%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$4.12 $4.12

9.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$12.24 $12.24

18.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$15.12 $15.12

-1.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$19.33 $19.33

-1.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$8.39 $8.39

-35.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.76 $2.76

-35.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$6.46 $6.46

-32.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.83 $4.83

-6.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.69 $3.69

-31.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.60 $3.60

-21.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.05 $2.05

22.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.64 $2.64

1.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.15 $9.15

62.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$16.63 $16.63

-8.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.63 $2.63

-6.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$4.78 $4.78

-26.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.49 $1.49

71.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$41.71 $41.71

78.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$4.56 $4.56

-30.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.67 $1.67

-15.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$29.53 $29.53

-13.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.86 $0.86

20.93%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$33.4K $33.4K

-3.43%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

4.92%

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

$184 $184

$158 $158

16.00%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$54.2 $54.2

16.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$57.3 $57.3

15.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$55.6 $55.6

36.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.00 $14.00

8.93%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$1,218 $1,218

71.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

66.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$51.6 $51.6

24.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$46.70 $46.70

9.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$89.9 $89.9

8.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$110 $110

35.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$947 $947

147.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$762 $762

106.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$2,566 $2,566

84.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$1,544 $1,544

82.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$1,801 $1,801

116.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$1,795 $1,795

46.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,779 $3,779

26.17%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Fargo, ND: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $947 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 26% 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 $102 in Chicago, IL versus $50.0 in Fargo, ND. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $481 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: $3,009 in Chicago, IL, $2,058 in Fargo, ND – roughly 46% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,513 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,087 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 $102 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 $2,058, than in Chicago, IL at $3,009. 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 $2,058 in Fargo, ND to $3,009 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.