Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Great Falls, MT is 31.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.8% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Great Falls, MT is 18.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.59 $11.59
$20.82 $20.82
-44.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.84 $36.84
$100 $100
-63.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.57 $14.57
$11.97 $11.97
21.72%
Cappuccino
$4.06 $4.06
$5.56 $5.56
-26.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$3.11 $3.11
-30.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.42 $2.42
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.05 $7.05
$6.86 $6.86
2.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$8.45 $8.45
-55.86%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.04 $1.04
3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 $3.41
$4.15 $4.15
-17.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$5.52 $5.52
14.31%
Eggs
$3.28 $3.28
$4.65 $4.65
-29.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.03 $14.03
$14.33 $14.33
-2.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.02 $14.02
$14.88 $14.88
-5.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 $12.55
$19.34 $19.34
-35.11%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$5.17 $5.17
-11.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.71 $1.71
-9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.41 $4.41
12.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$4.51 $4.51
-27.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.53 $2.53
-29.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.74 $2.74
-42.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.43 $2.43
-4.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.7 $2.7
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.88 $7.88
$15.19 $15.19
-48.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.92 $12.92
$16.42 $16.42
-21.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.7 $3.7
12.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.26 $30.26
$74.1 $74.1
-59.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 $2.45
$3.34 $3.34
-26.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.7 $29.7
$25.42 $25.42
16.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.08 $1.08
-24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 $155
$188 $188
-17.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52 $52
$63.7 $63.7
-18.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.7 $75.7
$65.2 $65.2
16.10%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.7 $61.7
$76.7 $76.7
-19.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.83 $11.83
$14.93 $14.93
-20.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$798 $798
$2,063 $2,063
-61.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.6K $32.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-16.78%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 $66.8
$64.3 $64.3
3.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.61 $32.61
$52.4 $52.4
-37.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.2 $71.2
$95.2 $95.2
-25.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,442 $1,442
$2,378 $2,378
-39.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 $1,077
$1,584 $1,584
-32.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,964 $1,964
$4,763 $4,763
-58.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,812 $1,812
$2,815 $2,815
-35.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,124 $2,124
$3,588 $3,588
-40.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,113 $2,113
$2,490 $2,490
-15.15%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Great Falls, MT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,954 $3,954
$5,275 $5,275
-25.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.6
0.30%

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

Last update for Great Falls, MT: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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