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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30.5% more expensive than Montgomery, AL without rent, and 55.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 58.3% more expensive than Montgomery, AL without rent, and 85.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.86 $19.86
4.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$51.8 $51.8
93.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.17 $11.17
7.16%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.4 $5.4
2.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.54 $2.54
22.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.01 $2.01
20.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.13 $4.13
66.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.11 $4.11
105.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.89 $0.89
16.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.61 $1.61
157.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$2.49 $2.49
121.69%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.7 $3.7
25.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.27 $7.27
97.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$7.98 $7.98
86.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.42 $14.42
34.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.1 $5.1
1.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.43 $1.43
19.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.16 $2.16
104.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.34 $3.34
35.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.07 $2.07
22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.98 $1.98
38.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.14 $2.14
13.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.22 $1.22
121.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$6.88 $6.88
120.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.87 $12.87
27.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.74 $1.74
35.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.54 $1.54
140.26%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.44 $3.44
-2.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.21 $1.21
17.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.27 $29.27
-13.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.8 $0.8
35.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.4K $29.4K
10.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.91%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$292 $292
-35.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.1 $51.1
24.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.7 $63.7
2.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$36.98 $36.98
107.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.7 $9.7
53.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,342 $1,342
53.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.1K $10.1K
289.02%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54.6 $54.6
17.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$25.02 $25.02
109.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$69.8 $69.8
36.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$141 $141
2.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,245 $1,245
90.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$763 $763
107.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,546 $1,546
208.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$935 $935
200.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,397 $1,397
156.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,270 $1,270
96.01%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Montgomery, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,655 $3,655
44.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.42
2.80%

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 Montgomery, AL: October 29, 2025

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