Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpena, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpena, MI and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Alpena, MI is 11.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Alpena, MI is 25.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.94 $18.94
$20.82 $20.82
-9.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9 $73.9
$100 $100
-26.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 $10.83
$11.97 $11.97
-9.52%
Cappuccino
$4.37 $4.37
$5.56 $5.56
-21.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$3.11 $3.11
-37.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.42 $2.42
-18.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$6.86 $6.86
-10.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 $5.53
$8.45 $8.45
-34.56%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.04 $1.04
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$4.15 $4.15
-13.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.52 $5.52
-20.83%
Eggs
$4.3 $4.3
$4.65 $4.65
-7.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 $10.97
$14.33 $14.33
-23.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.91 $8.91
$14.88 $14.88
-40.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.18 $10.18
$19.34 $19.34
-47.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$5.17 $5.17
-5.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.71 $1.71
-5.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.41 $4.41
-5.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$4.51 $4.51
2.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.9 $2.9
$2.53 $2.53
14.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.74 $2.74
0.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.43 $2.43
-13.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.7 $2.7
-21.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.69 $9.69
$15.19 $15.19
-36.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 $14.23
$16.42 $16.42
-13.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.35 $2.35
-23.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 $3.54
$3.7 $3.7
-4.32%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 $3.59
$3.34 $3.34
7.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.71 $28.71
$25.42 $25.42
12.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K $29.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.51%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$188 $188
-0.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 $52.9
$63.7 $63.7
-16.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$65.2 $65.2
4.80%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.47 $43.47
$76.7 $76.7
-43.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 $13.53
$14.93 $14.93
-9.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$2,063 $2,063
-37.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.59%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 $51.6
$64.3 $64.3
-19.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.86 $39.86
$52.4 $52.4
-23.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 $87.6
$95.2 $95.2
-8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.29%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,044 $1,044
$2,378 $2,378
-56.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 $1,333
$1,584 $1,584
-15.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 $2,012
$4,763 $4,763
-57.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 $2,188
$2,815 $2,815
-22.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,725 $2,725
$3,588 $3,588
-24.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,571 $2,571
$2,490 $2,490
3.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Alpena, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Alpena, MI: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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