Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Montpelier, VT

For one person, living is cheaper in Montpelier, VT: $2,304 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
111

Cost of Living Index in Montpelier, VT
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Montpelier, VT Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Montpelier, VT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,304

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Montpelier, VT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Montpelier, VT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,304 in Montpelier, VT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Montpelier, VT $2,304

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,487 in Montpelier, VT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Montpelier, VT $3,487

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,671 in Montpelier, VT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Montpelier, VT $4,671

Chicago, IL costs about 33% more than Montpelier, VT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Montpelier, VT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Montpelier, VT by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.71 $20.71

-1.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$78.7 $78.7

12.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.45 $10.45

22.97%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.17 $4.17

38.61%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.13 $3.13

-12.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.49 $1.49

51.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.57 $7.57

-9.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.82 $6.82

35.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.35 $1.35

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.68 $4.68

-24.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.22 $4.22

27.49%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.04 $5.04

-9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$17.85 $17.85

-23.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$12.89 $12.89

9.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$17.08 $17.08

5.74%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.97 $5.97

-13.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.69 $1.69

17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.65 $4.65

-16.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.52 $4.52

6.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.64 $1.64

71.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.62 $2.62

1.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.17 $1.17

76.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.01 $3.01

0.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$13.68 $13.68

1.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.97 $11.97

25.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.69 $1.69

55.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.04 $2.04

69.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$4.90 $4.90

-35.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.19 $2.19

-22.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$47.76 $47.76

-47.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.97 $0.97

31.96%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.6K $27.6K

29.75%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.6K $26.6K

0.65%

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

$192 $192

$196 $196

-2.22%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$53.4 $53.4

30.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$52.6 $52.6

18.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$12.07 $12.07

47.72%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$813 $813

123.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$35.1K $35.1K

15.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$39.78 $39.78

66.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$30.46 $30.46

68.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$52.4 $52.4

97.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$81.0 $81.0

76.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,426 $1,426

77.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,118 $1,118

45.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,434 $2,434

98.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,990 $1,990

37.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.59

2.88%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Montpelier, VT: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Montpelier, VT

$1.1K 48.5% 31.1% $503

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Montpelier, VT

$435 18.9% 0.9% $3.8

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Montpelier, VT

$317 13.8% 7.8% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Montpelier, VT

$302 13.1% 6.6% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Montpelier, VT

$92 4% 44% $72

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Montpelier, VT

$16 * 0.7% 83.6% $81

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Montpelier, VT

$24 * 1.1% 71.1% $59

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,426 in Montpelier, VT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $79 in Montpelier, VT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $435 – making Montpelier, VT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Montpelier, VT

🕒 Local time

12:43 12:43 PM

13:43 1:43 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

7,800

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Montpelier, VT 1,250 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Montpelier, VT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Montpelier, VT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,304 in Montpelier, VT – Montpelier, VT comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,456 in Montpelier, VT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montpelier, VT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,426 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $1,815 per month in Chicago, IL and $813 in Montpelier, VT. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,304 in Montpelier, VT. That makes Montpelier, VT about 25% cheaper.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,304 in Montpelier, VT. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Montpelier, VT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.