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 $2,427 per month in Molde vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,678 per month in Molde vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,929 per month in Molde vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Molde is about 21% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Molde and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Molde by 81%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.26 NOK 235

$20.91 $20.91

20.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 NOK 760

$98.1 $98.1

-16.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.45 NOK 125

$11.86 $11.86

13.41%

Cappuccino

$5.07 NOK 47.10

$5.60 $5.60

-9.46%

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

$2.85 NOK 26.49

$3.07 $3.07

-7.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 NOK 24.65

$2.47 $2.47

7.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.28 NOK 86.2

$7.14 $7.14

29.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 NOK 94.2

$8.08 $8.08

25.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 NOK 21.27

$1.05 $1.05

118.10%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 NOK 29.09

$4.11 $4.11

-23.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 NOK 35.98

$5.61 $5.61

-31.02%

Eggs

$3.09 NOK 28.72

$4.51 $4.51

-31.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 NOK 83.9

$14.27 $14.27

-36.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.97 NOK 158

$14.89 $14.89

13.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$28.21 NOK 262

$19.19 $19.19

47.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 NOK 24.17

$5.14 $5.14

-49.42%

Banana (1kg)

$3.08 NOK 28.59

$1.77 $1.77

74.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.41 NOK 31.67

$4.39 $4.39

-22.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 NOK 50.8

$4.56 $4.56

19.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 NOK 13.76

$2.54 $2.54

-41.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NOK 20.26

$2.75 $2.75

-20.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 NOK 24.19

$2.42 $2.42

7.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 NOK 17.00

$2.62 $2.62

-30.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.11 NOK 168

$14.92 $14.92

21.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.40 NOK 171

$14.80 $14.80

24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 NOK 27.26

$2.46 $2.46

19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 NOK 37.47

$3.73 $3.73

8.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.38 NOK 40.65

$2.48 $2.48

76.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.9 NOK 779

$75.4 $75.4

11.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 NOK 92.3

$3.18 $3.18

212.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 NOK 13.08

$1.42 $1.42

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$46.02 NOK 428

$24.94 $24.94

84.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.26 NOK 20.97

$1.06 $1.06

113.21%

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

$34.9K NOK 324.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

9.41%

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

$38.6K NOK 358.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

48.26%

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

$241 NOK 2,243

$185 $185

30.56%

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

$37.94 NOK 352

$61.7 $61.7

-38.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.4 NOK 524

$66.9 $66.9

-15.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.52 NOK 460

$75.2 $75.2

-34.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.16 NOK 327

$13.08 $13.08

168.81%

Cinema Ticket

$16.62 NOK 154

$14.71 $14.71

12.98%

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

$200 NOK 1,854

$2,020 $2,020

-90.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K NOK 93.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

-74.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.8 NOK 881

$64.6 $64.6

46.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 NOK 494

$52.5 $52.5

1.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 NOK 919

$97.8 $97.8

1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 NOK 1,389

$148 $148

1.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,172 NOK 10.9K

$2,313 $2,313

-49.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$902 NOK 8,382

$1,590 $1,590

-43.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 NOK 12.9K

$4,608 $4,608

-69.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 NOK 13.3K

$2,779 $2,779

-48.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,221 NOK 57.8K

$3,922 $3,922

58.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,148 NOK 47.8K

$2,613 $2,613

97.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,811 NOK 35.4K

$5,217 $5,217

-26.96%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,172 in Molde versus $2,313 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 37% 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 $82.0 in Molde versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $452 in Molde vs $447 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: $2,427 in Molde, $3,077 in Chicago, IL – roughly 27% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,640 per month in Molde and $4,616 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 1% 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 $82.0 in Molde and $98.0 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 $2,427 in Molde and $3,077 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 $2,427 in Molde to $3,077 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.