Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Montgomery, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Montgomery, AL

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 32.7% more expensive than Montgomery, AL without rent, and 54.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 36.4% more expensive than Montgomery, AL without rent, and 87.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.10 $20.10

$20.11 $20.11

-0.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$51.8 $51.8

96.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.02 $12.02

$11.07 $11.07

8.58%

Cappuccino

$5.62 $5.62

$5.28 $5.28

6.44%

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

$3.01 $3.01

$2.51 $2.51

19.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$4.34 $4.34

60.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$3.88 $3.88

117.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$1.61 $1.61

155.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$2.48 $2.48

124.60%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.70 $3.70

21.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.42 $14.42

$7.01 $7.01

105.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.03 $8.03

87.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$14.32 $14.32

32.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$5.12 $5.12

1.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.41 $1.41

26.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.14 $2.14

102.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.35 $3.35

35.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.15 $2.15

18.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.98 $1.98

36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.07 $2.07

20.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.26 $1.26

108.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.12 $15.12

$7.09 $7.09

113.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.19 $14.19

5.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.77 $1.77

39.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.48 $1.48

147.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.95 $1.95

31.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.49 $3.49

-5.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.22 $1.22

12.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$29.65 $29.65

-15.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.80 $0.80

32.50%

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

$31.4K $31.4K

$29.0K $29.0K

8.27%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.55%

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

$187 $187

$298 $298

-37.42%

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

$63.0 $63.0

$51.3 $51.3

22.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.8 $65.8

$66.0 $66.0

-0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$37.00 $37.00

103.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.95 $12.95

Cinema Ticket

$15.13 $15.13

$9.54 $9.54

58.60%

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

$2,067 $2,067

$1,354 $1,354

52.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.8K $38.8K

$9,838 $9,838

294.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$54.9 $54.9

16.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$24.67 $24.67

106.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$71.4 $71.4

36.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$141 $141

1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 $2,338

$1,240 $1,240

88.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$740 $740

118.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,764 $4,764

$1,547 $1,547

207.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,762 $2,762

$941 $941

193.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,766 $3,766

$1,369 $1,369

175.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,614 $2,614

$1,409 $1,409

85.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,006 $5,006

$3,641 $3,641

37.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: March 3, 2026

Last update for Montgomery, AL: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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