Cost of Living Comparison Between Montgomery, AL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Montgomery, AL and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Montgomery, AL is 23.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Montgomery, AL is 36.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 46.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$20.82 $20.82
-4.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.8 $51.8
$100 $100
-48.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 $11.17
$11.97 $11.97
-6.68%
Cappuccino
$5.4 $5.4
$5.56 $5.56
-2.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.11 $3.11
-18.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.13 $4.13
$6.86 $6.86
-39.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 $4.11
$8.45 $8.45
-51.36%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.04 $1.04
-14.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 $1.61
$4.15 $4.15
-61.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 $2.49
$5.52 $5.52
-54.89%
Eggs
$3.7 $3.7
$4.65 $4.65
-20.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.27 $7.27
$14.33 $14.33
-49.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.98 $7.98
$14.88 $14.88
-46.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$19.34 $19.34
-25.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.1 $5.1
$5.17 $5.17
-1.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.71 $1.71
-16.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$4.41 $4.41
-51.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.51 $4.51
-25.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$2.53 $2.53
-18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.74 $2.74
-27.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.43 $2.43
-11.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.7 $2.7
-54.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.88 $6.88
$15.19 $15.19
-54.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.87 $12.87
$16.42 $16.42
-21.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$3.7 $3.7
-58.38%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.34 $3.34
2.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.42 $1.42
-14.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.27 $29.27
$25.42 $25.42
15.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 $292
$188 $188
54.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$63.7 $63.7
-19.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$65.2 $65.2
-2.33%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.98 $36.98
$76.7 $76.7
-51.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.7 $9.7
$14.93 $14.93
-35.03%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,342 $1,342
$2,063 $2,063
-34.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K $10.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-74.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6 $54.6
$64.3 $64.3
-15.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.02 $25.02
$52.4 $52.4
-52.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 $69.8
$95.2 $95.2
-26.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$145 $145
-2.37%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 $1,245
$2,378 $2,378
-47.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$763 $763
$1,584 $1,584
-51.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,546 $1,546
$4,763 $4,763
-67.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$935 $935
$2,815 $2,815
-66.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,397 $1,397
$3,588 $3,588
-61.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,270 $1,270
$2,490 $2,490
-48.98%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Montgomery, AL
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,655 $3,655
$5,275 $5,275
-30.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Montgomery, AL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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