Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Jamestown, ND Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Jamestown, ND

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,531 in Jamestown, ND, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,750 in Jamestown, ND, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,970 in Jamestown, ND, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 23% more than Jamestown, ND, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Jamestown, ND sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Jamestown, ND by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$19.21 $19.21

6.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$75.0 $75.0

31.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$11.14 $11.14

8.35%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.05 $5.05

13.47%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.47 $2.47

20.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.08 $6.08

14.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.98 $6.98

17.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.83 $0.83

26.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.55 $3.55

14.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.27 $4.27

28.81%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$4.22 $4.22

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$12.41 $12.41

16.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$11.61 $11.61

30.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$15.36 $15.36

25.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.97 $4.97

3.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.57 $1.57

12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$4.16 $4.16

4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.70 $4.70

-7.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.79 $2.79

-12.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.88 $2.88

-3.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.08 $2.08

21.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.17 $2.17

22.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$9.74 $9.74

52.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$14.67 $14.67

2.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.84 $1.84

33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.35 $3.35

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.95 $1.95

24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.41 $3.41

-2.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.65 $1.65

-16.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$29.07 $29.07

-13.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$30.2K $30.2K

5.59%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.64%

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

$187 $187

$184 $184

1.69%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$52.3 $52.3

21.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$66.6 $66.6

-1.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$42.96 $42.96

76.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.37 $13.37

10.70%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,311 $1,311

54.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

63.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$50.4 $50.4

27.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$40.67 $40.67

27.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$85.4 $85.4

11.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$112 $112

30.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,598 $1,598

45.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,377 $1,377

17.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,637 $2,637

78.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,219 $2,219

22.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,681 $2,681

42.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,324 $2,324

9.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$3,118 $3,118

63.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Jamestown, ND: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,598 in Jamestown, 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 64% 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Jamestown, ND. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $387 – making Jamestown, ND 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 Jamestown, ND: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,531 in Jamestown, ND – roughly 23% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,796 in Jamestown, ND. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Jamestown, ND. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $2,531 in Jamestown, ND. 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 $2,531 in Jamestown, ND to $3,111 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 Jamestown, 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.