Cost of Living Comparison Between Molde and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Molde and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,402 per month in Molde vs $3,068 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,669 per month in Molde vs $4,648 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,936 per month in Molde vs $6,229 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Molde is about 22% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Molde and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Molde by 80%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.48 NOK 245

$20.17 $20.17

26.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 NOK 780

$99.5 $99.5

-18.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.40 NOK 129

$12.23 $12.23

9.57%

Cappuccino

$5.07 NOK 48.82

$5.60 $5.60

-9.46%

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

$2.91 NOK 27.98

$3.12 $3.12

-6.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 NOK 24.78

$2.43 $2.43

5.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.06 NOK 87.3

$6.93 $6.93

30.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.24 NOK 98.6

$8.20 $8.20

24.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 NOK 21.34

$1.08 $1.08

105.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 NOK 29.66

$3.97 $3.97

-22.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.88 NOK 37.36

$5.58 $5.58

-30.47%

Eggs

$3.01 NOK 28.96

$4.47 $4.47

-32.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 NOK 87.6

$14.50 $14.50

-37.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 NOK 161

$15.08 $15.08

10.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.54 NOK 265

$19.34 $19.34

42.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 NOK 24.27

$5.37 $5.37

-53.07%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 NOK 29.89

$1.76 $1.76

76.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 NOK 31.47

$4.32 $4.32

-24.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 NOK 55.2

$4.41 $4.41

29.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 NOK 15.07

$2.54 $2.54

-38.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 NOK 21.75

$2.70 $2.70

-16.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 NOK 26.08

$2.49 $2.49

8.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 NOK 17.64

$2.60 $2.60

-29.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.27 NOK 176

$14.80 $14.80

23.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.68 NOK 218

$15.18 $15.18

49.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 NOK 28.04

$2.47 $2.47

17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 NOK 39.12

$3.60 $3.60

12.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.14 NOK 39.88

$2.54 $2.54

62.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.2 NOK 801

$76.3 $76.3

9.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.18 NOK 98.0

$3.30 $3.30

208.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 NOK 14.03

$1.38 $1.38

5.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.86 NOK 442

$25.36 $25.36

80.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.18 NOK 20.97

$1.09 $1.09

100.00%

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

$35.8K NOK 344.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

13.07%

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

$38.0K NOK 365.7K

$26.6K $26.6K

42.93%

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

$243 NOK 2,341

$186 $186

30.67%

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

$38.98 NOK 375

$62.9 $62.9

-37.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.2 NOK 542

$66.2 $66.2

-15.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 NOK 472

$77.6 $77.6

-36.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.12 NOK 338

$13.16 $13.16

166.87%

Cinema Ticket

$16.83 NOK 162

$14.74 $14.74

14.18%

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

$199 NOK 1,915

$2,039 $2,039

-90.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K NOK 98.2K

$39.9K $39.9K

-74.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 NOK 925

$63.9 $63.9

50.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 NOK 512

$51.2 $51.2

3.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 NOK 956

$95.2 $95.2

4.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 NOK 1,451

$144 $144

4.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,180 NOK 11.4K

$2,305 $2,305

-48.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$880 NOK 8,478

$1,575 $1,575

-44.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 NOK 13.8K

$4,688 $4,688

-69.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 NOK 14.0K

$2,737 $2,737

-46.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,163 NOK 40.1K

$5,019 $5,019

-17.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.75

6.6

-43.18%

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

Last update for Molde: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,180 in Molde versus $2,305 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 21% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Molde versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $457 in Molde vs $448 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,402 in Molde, $3,068 in Chicago, IL – roughly 28% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,603 per month in Molde and $4,602 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Molde, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Molde and $99.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,402 in Molde and $3,068 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 $2,402 in Molde to $3,068 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Molde. 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.