Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Great Falls, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Great Falls, MT

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28% more expensive than Great Falls, MT without rent, and 37.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 23.1% more expensive than Great Falls, MT without rent, and 45.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$11.72 $11.72
71.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$37.94 $37.94
168.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$14.32 $14.32
-16.06%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.08 $4.08
37.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.23 $2.23
34.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.96 $1.96
19.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$7.01 $7.01
-0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$3.84 $3.84
120.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.07 $1.07
1.87%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.34 $3.34
23.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$6.02 $6.02
-7.48%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.26 $3.26
38.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$13.71 $13.71
5.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$13.94 $13.94
7.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$12.72 $12.72
49.21%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.48 $4.48
16.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.48 $1.48
20.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.95 $4.95
-12.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$3.28 $3.28
38.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.81 $1.81
40.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.64 $1.64
65.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.25 $2.25
10.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.87 $2.87
-8.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$8.03 $8.03
88.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$17.45 $17.45
-14.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.69 $1.69
46.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.28 $4.28
-14.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.96 $1.96
31.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$30.44 $30.44
144.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.54 $2.54
29.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.63 $1.63
-15.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$28.77 $28.77
-13.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.85 $0.85
24.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$30.5K $30.5K
3.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
3.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$154 $154
21.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$51.1 $51.1
23.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$75.7 $75.7
-13.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$62.4 $62.4
20.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$12.23 $12.23
23.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$805 $805
156.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$31.8K $31.8K
21.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$67.7 $67.7
-5.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$32.32 $32.32
57.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$69.8 $69.8
39.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$99.8 $99.8
43.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,475 $1,475
58.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,082 $1,082
49.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$1,964 $1,964
142.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$1,851 $1,851
49.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
$2,093 $2,093
79.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$2,115 $2,115
23.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Great Falls, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$3,534 $3,534
41.66%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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