Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Helena, MT and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,125 in Helena, MT, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Helena, MT outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

151

Cost of Living Index in Helena, MT
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Helena, MT Living Index
147

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

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Helena, MT

🇺🇸 United States

$3,125

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Helena, MT and in Chicago, IL

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

A single person spends $3,125 per month in Helena, MT vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Helena, MT $3,125
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,583 per month in Helena, MT vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Helena, MT $4,583
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $6,041 per month in Helena, MT vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Helena, MT $6,041
Chicago, IL $5,999

Helena, MT costs about 3% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Helena, MT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Helena, MT by 130%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.55 $21.55

$20.71 $20.71

4.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$109 $109

$89.2 $89.2

21.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$18.11 $18.11

$13.19 $13.19

37.30%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.66 $5.66

-7.42%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$2.64 $2.64

-16.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.28 $2.28

-24.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$6.87 $6.87

-27.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$8.84 $8.84

-22.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.25 $1.25

-16.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.72 $3.72

4.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.39 $5.39

-14.84%

Eggs

$3.59 $3.59

$4.74 $4.74

-24.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.05 $18.05

$13.84 $13.84

30.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.87 $8.87

$14.40 $14.40

-38.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$18.38 $18.38

8.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$5.22 $5.22

-10.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.98 $1.98

-12.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$4.06 $4.06

13.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.97 $4.97

-16.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.67 $2.67

-19.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.66 $2.66

-44.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.24 $2.24

-23.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$3.13 $3.13

-48.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.45 $10.45

$13.82 $13.82

-24.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.98 $12.98

$14.88 $14.88

-12.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.54 $2.54

-31.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.51 $3.51

-26.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.43 $2.43

45.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.8 $59.8

$73.5 $73.5

-18.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.13 $10.13

$3.18 $3.18

218.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.51 $3.51

$1.39 $1.39

152.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.22 $44.22

$25.03 $25.03

76.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.20 $1.20

-18.33%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

1.16%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$26.7K $26.7K

12.52%

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

$375 $375

$194 $194

92.75%

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

$68.2 $68.2

$69.5 $69.5

-1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.3 $85.3

$61.6 $61.6

38.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 $51.6

$47.90 $47.90

7.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.28 $15.28

$27.34 $27.34

-44.11%

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$17.81 $17.81

-32.00%

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

$1,930 $1,930

$1,794 $1,794

7.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-12.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.1 $65.1

$67.0 $67.0

-2.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$120 $120

$52.1 $52.1

129.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 $81.9

$102 $102

-19.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$144 $144

-13.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,768 $1,768

$2,526 $2,526

-30.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 $1,511

$1,578 $1,578

-4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,837 $2,837

$4,738 $4,738

-40.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,543 $2,543

$2,693 $2,693

-5.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,528 $3,528

$4,190 $4,190

-15.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,009 $3,009

$2,768 $2,768

8.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,363 $6,363

$4,931 $4,931

29.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.81

-4.41%

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

Last update for Helena, MT: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Helena, MT

$1.5K 48.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 4.4% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Helena, MT

$528 16.9%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 38.4% $203

Groceries & Markets

Helena, MT

$389 12.4%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 15.1% $59

Eating Out

Helena, MT

$344 11%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 0.3% $1.1

Clothing & Footwear

Helena, MT

$176 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 6.6% $12

Getting Around

Helena, MT

$102 3.3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 8.1% $8.3

Sport & Entertainment

Helena, MT

$76 2.4%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 10.1% $7.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,768 in Helena, MT versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Helena, MT. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in Helena, MT versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $389 in Helena, MT vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Helena, MT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Helena, MT

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

09:49 9:49 AM

10:49 10:49 AM

1 h ahead of Helena, MT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

32,091

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Helena, MT Chicago, IL 2,010 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Helena, MT
Chicago, IL

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

Helena, MT vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,125 in Helena, MT, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Chicago, IL comes out roughly 3% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,688 per month in Helena, MT and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Helena, MT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,768 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Helena, MT – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in Helena, MT and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,125 in Helena, MT and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,125 in Helena, MT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Helena, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.