Cost of Living Comparison Between Fargo, ND and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Fargo, ND and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Fargo, ND is 6.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Fargo, ND is 5.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24 $15.24
$20.82 $20.82
-26.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.56 $49.56
$100 $100
-50.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.11 $11.11
$11.97 $11.97
-7.18%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$5.56 $5.56
-3.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.11 $3.11
-16.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 $2.42
-16.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$6.86 $6.86
-12.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.46 $8.46
$8.45 $8.45
0.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.04 $1.04
18.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.36 $3.36
$4.15 $4.15
-19.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.8 $5.8
$5.52 $5.52
5.07%
Eggs
$4.05 $4.05
$4.65 $4.65
-12.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.26 $12.26
$14.33 $14.33
-14.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.6 $14.6
$14.88 $14.88
-1.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.37 $19.37
$19.34 $19.34
0.16%
Apples (1kg)
$8.33 $8.33
$5.17 $5.17
61.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.71 $1.71
61.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.42 $6.42
$4.41 $4.41
45.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$4.51 $4.51
8.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.53 $2.53
48.62%
Onion (1kg)
$3.5 $3.5
$2.74 $2.74
27.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.43 $2.43
-20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.7 $2.7
-2.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.19 $9.19
$15.19 $15.19
-39.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.26 $15.26
$16.42 $16.42
-7.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.35 $2.35
7.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.7 $3.7
28.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.53 $2.53
-39.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.75 $41.75
$74.1 $74.1
-43.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.54 $4.54
$3.34 $3.34
35.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.42 $1.42
16.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.89 $28.89
$25.42 $25.42
13.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K $32.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
1.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 $161
$188 $188
-14.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.3 $54.3
$63.7 $63.7
-14.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$65.2 $65.2
-10.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 $56.1
$76.7 $76.7
-26.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.9 $13.9
$14.93 $14.93
-6.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,228 $1,228
$2,063 $2,063
-40.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-41.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$64.3 $64.3
-19.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.88 $45.88
$52.4 $52.4
-12.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 $90.9
$95.2 $95.2
-4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$145 $145
-25.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$960 $960
$2,378 $2,378
-59.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$770 $770
$1,584 $1,584
-51.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,540 $2,540
$4,763 $4,763
-46.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,532 $1,532
$2,815 $2,815
-45.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,721 $1,721
$3,588 $3,588
-52.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 $1,750
$2,490 $2,490
-29.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fargo, ND
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,832 $3,832
$5,275 $5,275
-27.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%

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

Last update for Fargo, ND: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.