Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montpelier, VT and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Montpelier, VT: $2,304 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

111

Cost of Living Index in Montpelier, VT
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Montpelier, VT Living Index
146

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

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Montpelier, VT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,304

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montpelier, VT 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 Montpelier, VT and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,304 per month in Montpelier, VT vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montpelier, VT $2,304
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,487 per month in Montpelier, VT vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montpelier, VT $3,487
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,671 per month in Montpelier, VT vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Montpelier, VT $4,671
Chicago, IL $6,019

Montpelier, VT is about 25% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Montpelier, VT and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Montpelier, VT by 70%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$20.39 $20.39

1.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$88.6 $88.6

-11.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 $10.45

$12.85 $12.85

-18.68%

Cappuccino

$4.17 $4.17

$5.78 $5.78

-27.85%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$2.74 $2.74

14.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.26 $2.26

-34.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.57 $7.57

$6.88 $6.88

10.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$9.24 $9.24

-26.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.26 $1.26

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.68 $4.68

$3.55 $3.55

31.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$5.38 $5.38

-21.56%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$4.55 $4.55

10.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.85 $17.85

$13.65 $13.65

30.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.89 $12.89

$14.07 $14.07

-8.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.08 $17.08

$18.06 $18.06

-5.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.16 $5.16

15.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.98 $1.98

-14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$3.88 $3.88

19.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$4.83 $4.83

-6.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.81 $2.81

-41.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.67 $2.67

-1.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 $1.17

$2.07 $2.07

-43.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.03 $3.03

-0.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.68 $13.68

$13.90 $13.90

-1.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$15.05 $15.05

-20.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.63 $2.63

-35.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.45 $3.45

-40.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.90 $4.90

$3.17 $3.17

54.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.70 $1.70

28.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$47.76 $47.76

$24.90 $24.90

91.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.28 $1.28

-24.22%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$35.8K $35.8K

-22.93%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-0.64%

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

$196 $196

$192 $192

2.27%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$69.6 $69.6

-23.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$62.2 $62.2

-15.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$12.07 $12.07

$17.83 $17.83

-32.31%

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

$813 $813

$1,815 $1,815

-55.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.1K $35.1K

$40.6K $40.6K

-13.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.78 $39.78

$66.2 $66.2

-39.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.46 $30.46

$51.4 $51.4

-40.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.4 $52.4

$103 $103

-49.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 $81.0

$143 $143

-43.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 $1,426

$2,531 $2,531

-43.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 $1,118

$1,621 $1,621

-31.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,434 $2,434

$4,828 $4,828

-49.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,990 $1,990

$2,734 $2,734

-27.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.78

-2.80%

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

Last update for Montpelier, VT: November 3, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Montpelier, VT

$1.1K 48.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 45% $503

Groceries & Markets

Montpelier, VT

$435 18.9%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 0.9% $3.8

Eating Out

Montpelier, VT

$317 13.8%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 8.5% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Montpelier, VT

$302 13.1%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 7.1% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Montpelier, VT

$92 4%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 78.5% $72

Sport & Entertainment

Montpelier, VT

$24 * 1.1%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 246% $59

Getting Around

Montpelier, VT

$16 * 0.7%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 511% $81

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,426 in Montpelier, VT versus $2,531 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Montpelier, VT versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $439 – making Montpelier, VT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Montpelier, VT

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

13:16 1:16 PM

12:16 12:16 PM

1 h behind Montpelier, VT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

7,800

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Montpelier, VT Chicago, IL 1,250 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Montpelier, VT
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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,304 in Montpelier, VT, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Montpelier, VT comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,456 per month in Montpelier, VT and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montpelier, VT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,426 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Montpelier, VT and $1,815 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,304 in Montpelier, VT and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. That makes Montpelier, VT about 25% cheaper.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,304 in Montpelier, VT and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Montpelier, VT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.