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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33% more expensive than Hamilton, MT without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.2% more expensive than Hamilton, MT without rent, and 43.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.95 $18.95
9.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74 $74
35.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.11 $11.11
7.74%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.96 $4.96
12.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.58 $2.58
20.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.98 $1.98
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.05 $6.05
13.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.96 $6.96
21.41%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.01 $1.01
2.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.46 $3.46
19.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.25 $4.25
29.88%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.15 $12.15
17.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.35 $11.35
31.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.74 $15.74
22.87%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.09 $6.09
-15.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.27 $1.27
34.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.33 $4.33
1.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.77 $4.77
-5.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.87 $2.87
-11.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.78 $2.78
-1.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.1 $2.1
15.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.09 $2.09
29.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.45 $9.45
60.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.23 $14.23
15.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.8 $1.8
30.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.44 $3.44
7.56%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.49 $3.49
-4.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.57 $1.57
-9.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.82 $28.82
-11.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.89 $0.89
21.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.5K $29.5K
9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.2K $25.2K
4.10%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$202 $202
-6.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.9 $51.9
22.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$77.3 $77.3
-15.65%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.32 $42.32
81.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.23 $13.23
12.85%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,281 $1,281
61.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.06%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52.1 $52.1
23.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.31 $39.31
33.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86 $86
10.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
27.62%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$898 $898
164.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,376 $1,376
15.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,964 $1,964
142.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,533 $1,533
83.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,301 $2,301
55.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,407 $2,407
3.48%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Hamilton, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,533 $3,533
49.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Hamilton, MT: October 28, 2025

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