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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,580 in Missoula, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,695 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,234 in Missoula, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,273 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,889 in Missoula, MT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Missoula, MT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Missoula, MT by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$16.79 $16.79

18.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$74.7 $74.7

18.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.44 $9.44

37.08%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$4.24 $4.24

30.66%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.05 $3.05

-10.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.32 $2.32

1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.17 $6.17

15.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$6.04 $6.04

44.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.17 $1.17

14.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.50 $3.50

19.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$5.12 $5.12

11.91%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.25 $4.25

15.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$25.23 $25.23

-41.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$11.04 $11.04

34.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$19.44 $19.44

0.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.99 $4.99

11.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.57 $1.57

22.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.53 $5.53

-24.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.04 $4.04

20.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.45 $2.45

15.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.87 $2.87

-2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.37 $2.37

-7.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.86 $3.86

-20.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$11.08 $11.08

45.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$25.22 $25.22

-41.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.44 $4.44

-24.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.13 $5.13

-35.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$5.00 $5.00

-72.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$40.42 $40.42

-37.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.00 $1.00

17.00%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$34.2K $34.2K

5.18%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.00%

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

$191 $191

$140 $140

36.54%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$53.0 $53.0

28.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$69.6 $69.6

-11.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$61.1 $61.1

3.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$21.78 $21.78

24.61%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$13.54 $13.54

33.09%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$2,010 $2,010

-24.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$14.2K $14.2K

120.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$69.9 $69.9

-8.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$43.20 $43.20

27.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$105 $105

-4.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$145 $145

5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,616 $1,616

48.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,275 $1,275

29.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$3,153 $3,153

45.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,869 $2,869

-3.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$4,133 $4,133

-2.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$3,753 $3,753

-26.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,507 $3,507

37.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.08

4.93%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Missoula, MT: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,616 in Missoula, 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 37% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL versus $75.0 in Missoula, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $464 in Chicago, IL vs $488 in Missoula, MT – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Missoula, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,580 in Missoula, MT – roughly 21% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,676 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,870 in Missoula, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Missoula, MT, 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL and $75.0 in Missoula, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $2,580 in Missoula, 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 $2,580 in Missoula, MT to $3,117 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 Missoula, 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.