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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,226 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,276 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,326 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 37% more than Great Falls, MT, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Great Falls, MT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Great Falls, MT by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$11.33 $11.33

82.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$37.17 $37.17

170.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.45 $14.45

-17.92%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.10 $4.10

35.12%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.16 $2.16

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.83 $6.83

1.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$3.84 $3.84

111.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.10 $1.10

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.28 $3.28

19.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.06 $6.06

-10.56%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.12 $3.12

43.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$14.02 $14.02

3.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$13.64 $13.64

11.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$12.81 $12.81

50.27%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.43 $4.43

21.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.47 $1.47

14.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.89 $4.89

-11.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.22 $3.22

40.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.77 $1.77

44.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.65 $1.65

63.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.20 $2.20

9.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.89 $2.89

-9.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.16 $8.16

84.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$17.61 $17.61

-16.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.78 $1.78

39.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.15 $4.15

-11.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.03 $2.03

25.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$30.17 $30.17

150.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.46 $2.46

33.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.63 $1.63

-12.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$29.40 $29.40

-15.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$30.1K $30.1K

5.51%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.1K $25.1K

5.43%

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

$183 $183

$159 $159

15.59%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$51.0 $51.0

21.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$76.3 $76.3

-14.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$61.8 $61.8

23.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$12.03 $12.03

22.61%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$800 $800

156.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$32.5K $32.5K

18.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$65.4 $65.4

-2.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$32.55 $32.55

58.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$70.7 $70.7

37.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$98.7 $98.7

49.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,457 $1,457

61.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,059 $1,059

49.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$1,957 $1,957

140.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,821 $1,821

49.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,091 $2,091

90.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,094 $2,094

25.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,549 $3,549

33.11%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,457 in Great Falls, 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 33% 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 $100 in Chicago, IL versus $37 in Great Falls, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $400 – making Great Falls, 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 Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $2,226 in Great Falls, MT – roughly 37% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,340 in Great Falls, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 12% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $37.00 in Great Falls, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $2,226 in Great Falls, MT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,226 in Great Falls, MT to $3,051 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 Great Falls, 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.