Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Williston, ND and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Williston, ND: $2,269 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

108

Cost of Living Index in Williston, ND
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Williston, ND Living Index
146

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

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Williston, ND

🇺🇸 United States

$2,269

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,269 per month in Williston, ND vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Williston, ND $2,269
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,718 per month in Williston, ND vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Williston, ND $3,718
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $5,166 per month in Williston, ND vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Williston, ND $5,166
Chicago, IL $6,019

Williston, ND is about 26% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Williston, ND and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Williston, ND by 68%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.07 $20.07

$20.39 $20.39

-1.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.9 $75.9

$88.6 $88.6

-14.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.36 $11.36

$12.85 $12.85

-11.60%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$5.78 $5.78

-9.52%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$2.74 $2.74

0.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.26 $2.26

-11.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.88 $6.88

-21.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 $6.83

$9.24 $9.24

-26.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.26 $1.26

-23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.55 $3.55

-42.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.38 $5.38

-23.79%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$4.55 $4.55

-9.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$30.04 $30.04

$13.65 $13.65

120.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.64 $12.64

$14.07 $14.07

-10.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$18.06 $18.06

-22.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$5.16 $5.16

0.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.98 $1.98

-6.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.88 $3.88

9.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$4.83 $4.83

-2.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.81 $2.81

1.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.67 $2.67

10.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.07 $2.07

1.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.03 $3.03

-27.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.15 $10.15

$13.90 $13.90

-26.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.37 $15.37

$15.05 $15.05

2.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.63 $2.63

-27.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.45 $3.45

7.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.43 $2.43

-24.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 $68.8

$75.3 $75.3

-8.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 $3.00

$3.17 $3.17

-5.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.70 $1.70

-10.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.58 $32.58

$24.90 $24.90

30.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.28 $1.28

-17.19%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$35.8K $35.8K

-32.42%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.8K $26.8K

-7.37%

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

$197 $197

$192 $192

2.71%

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

$58.7 $58.7

$69.6 $69.6

-15.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$62.2 $62.2

19.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 $41.64

$47.79 $47.79

-12.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$13.64 $13.64

$17.83 $17.83

-23.50%

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

$1,360 $1,360

$1,815 $1,815

-25.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K $20.1K

$40.6K $40.6K

-50.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 $53.5

$66.2 $66.2

-19.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.89 $40.89

$51.4 $51.4

-20.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$103 $103

-7.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$143 $143

-27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 $997

$2,531 $2,531

-60.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 $901

$1,621 $1,621

-44.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 $2,057

$4,828 $4,828

-57.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,154 $2,154

$2,734 $2,734

-21.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,237 $2,237

$4,163 $4,163

-46.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,273 $2,273

$2,723 $2,723

-16.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,795 $5,795

$4,924 $4,924

17.70%

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 Williston, ND: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Williston, ND

$901 39.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 79.8% $720

Groceries & Markets

Williston, ND

$433 19.1%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 1.5% $6.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Williston, ND

$330 14.6%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 2% $6.6

Eating Out

Williston, ND

$317 14%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 8.5% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Williston, ND

$132 5.8%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 23.9% $32

Getting Around

Williston, ND

$87 3.8%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 11.6% $10

Sport & Entertainment

Williston, ND

$69 3%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 21.1% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $997 in Williston, ND 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.

Salaries run about 18% higher in Williston, ND, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Williston, ND versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $439 – making Williston, ND the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Williston, ND

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

07:34 7:34 AM

Same time as Williston, ND

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

30,000

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Williston, ND Chicago, IL 1,430 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Williston, ND
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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,269 in Williston, ND, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Williston, ND comes out roughly 26% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,403 per month in Williston, ND 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 Williston, ND, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $997 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Williston, ND and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Williston, ND. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Williston, ND, where all-in costs run around $2,269, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Williston, ND it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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