Cost of living comparison
Illinois is 4.4% cheaper than Montana.
- Restaurants
-
pay 11.9% less in Illinois
- Groceries
-
pay 11.9% less in Illinois
- Transportation
-
pay 4.8% more in Illinois
- Housing
-
pay 15.9% less in Illinois
- Childcare
-
pay 17.8% more in Illinois
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.4% more in Illinois
- Clothing
-
pay 15.0% less in Illinois
The cost of childcare, transportation, and entertainment and sports in Illinois are more expensive than in Montana. Expenses including housing, clothing, restaurants, and groceries are lower in Illinois.
If you lived in Illinois instead of Montana, you would:
pay 11.9% less for restaurants
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$22.08
|
$16.03
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.83
|
$10.33
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.49
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.20
|
$1.85
|
|
pay 11.9% less for groceries
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.51
|
$3.19
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.34
|
$5.63
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.08
|
$3.30
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.37
|
$2.92
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.32
|
$5.08
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.56
|
$2.10
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.84
|
$0.66
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.11
|
$2.05
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$1.82
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.01
|
$0.98
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.04
|
$1.20
|
|
pay 4.8% more for transportation
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.51
|
$3.61
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$45.00
|
$72.95
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,007.17
|
$28,096.73
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$28.13
|
$17.96
|
|
pay 15.9% less for housing
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$81.26
|
$65.96
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,501.94
|
$1,375.37
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,420.42
|
$1,146.99
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$165.97
|
$137.37
|
|
pay 17.8% more for childcare
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,302.15
|
$1,394.11
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,987.50
|
$24,405.00
|
|
pay 1.4% more for entertainment and sports
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.97
|
$5.17
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.94
|
$4.81
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.59
|
$9.79
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.52
|
$60.87
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$12.50
|
|
pay 15.0% less for clothing
Montana
|
Illinois
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$62.80
|
$51.50
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$65.21
|
$41.59
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$95.93
|
$80.60
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.12
|
$115.89
|
|
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