Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Mountain Home, ID Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Mountain Home, ID

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,555 in Mountain Home, ID, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,747 in Mountain Home, ID, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,939 in Mountain Home, ID, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Mountain Home, ID, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Mountain Home, ID sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Mountain Home, ID by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$18.96 $18.96

9.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$73.6 $73.6

33.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.06 $11.06

7.59%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.14 $5.14

13.62%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.47 $2.47

24.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.02 $2.02

16.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.06 $6.06

13.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.05 $7.05

14.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.04 $1.04

0.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.46 $3.46

15.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.42 $4.42

26.70%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.11 $4.11

10.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$12.11 $12.11

17.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.55 $11.55

29.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.48 $15.48

23.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.85 $4.85

9.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.64 $1.64

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.14 $4.14

2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.65 $4.65

-6.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.92 $2.92

-12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.87 $2.87

-2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$9.71 $9.71

53.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.82 $14.82

-0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.83 $1.83

29.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.28 $3.28

8.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.05 $2.05

19.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.45 $3.45

-2.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.67 $1.67

-17.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$28.92 $28.92

-12.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.12%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

2.35%

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

$188 $188

$184 $184

2.07%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$52.0 $52.0

21.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$68.1 $68.1

-2.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.45 $42.45

78.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$13.57 $13.57

9.06%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,287 $1,287

62.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.3K $23.3K

64.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$51.6 $51.6

25.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$39.78 $39.78

29.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$85.7 $85.7

12.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$114 $114

28.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,632 $1,632

42.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,379 $1,379

14.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,600 $2,600

83.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,210 $2,210

23.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,336 $2,336

72.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,350 $2,350

14.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Mountain Home, ID: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,632 in Mountain Home, ID. 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $74.0 in Mountain Home, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $388 – making Mountain Home, ID 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 Mountain Home, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,555 in Mountain Home, ID – roughly 21% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,833 in Mountain Home, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mountain Home, ID, 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $74.0 in Mountain Home, ID. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,555 in Mountain Home, ID. 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 $2,555 in Mountain Home, ID to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Mountain Home, ID. 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.