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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.5% cheaper than Helena, MT without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.1% more expensive than Helena, MT without rent, and 7.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.76 $19.76

5.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$89.3 $89.3

12.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.42 $13.42

-10.80%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.16 $5.16

7.75%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.28 $2.28

36.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.72 $1.72

40.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.85 $4.85

41.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.59 $6.59

28.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.18 $1.18

-11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.45 $4.45

-6.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.64 $3.64

51.65%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.3 $4.3

8.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$31.15 $31.15

-54.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.59 $9.59

55.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.71 $19.71

-1.88%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.7 $4.7

10.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.75 $1.75

-2.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.63 $4.63

-4.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.54 $5.54

-18.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.14 $2.14

18.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.88 $1.88

45.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.72 $1.72

41.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.24 $2.24

20.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.99 $9.99

52.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.09 $13.09

25.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.59 $2.59

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.41 $3.41

-25.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$59.1 $59.1

25.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$9.91 $9.91

-66.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$3.45 $3.45

-58.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$45.6 $45.6

-44.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$36.2K $36.2K

-10.42%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$30.8K $30.8K

-14.85%

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

$188 $188

$366 $366

-48.57%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$76.6 $76.6

-16.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$91.7 $91.7

-28.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$49.87 $49.87

53.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$14.92 $14.92

-12.67%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.62 $10.62

40.58%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,924 $1,924

7.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$22.7K $22.7K

72.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$59.7 $59.7

7.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$119 $119

-56.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$88.8 $88.8

7.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$114 $114

26.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,644 $1,644

44.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,404 $1,404

12.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,615 $2,615

82.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,209 $2,209

27.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$6,798 $6,798

-47.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$5,638 $5,638

-55.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,879 $6,879

-23.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.71

-1.64%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Helena, MT: October 28, 2025

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