Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Alpena, MI: $1,964 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

94

Cost of Living Index in Alpena, MI
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Alpena, MI Living Index
147

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

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Alpena, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$1,964

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,964 per month in Alpena, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Alpena, MI $1,964
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,844 per month in Alpena, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Alpena, MI $2,844
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Alpena, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Alpena, MI $3,723
Chicago, IL $5,999

Alpena, MI is about 35% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Alpena, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Alpena, MI by 44%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.37 $21.37

$20.71 $20.71

3.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 $73.9

$89.2 $89.2

-17.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 $10.45

$13.19 $13.19

-20.77%

Cappuccino

$5.36 $5.36

$5.66 $5.66

-5.30%

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

$1.87 $1.87

$2.64 $2.64

-29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.28 $2.28

-56.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.87 $6.87

-11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.45 $7.45

$8.84 $8.84

-15.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.25 $1.25

-35.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.72 $3.72

-30.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.39 $5.39

-19.85%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$4.74 $4.74

-20.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.43 $11.43

$13.84 $13.84

-17.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.74 $11.74

$14.40 $14.40

-18.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.12 $10.12

$18.38 $18.38

-44.94%

Apples (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$5.22 $5.22

-5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.98 $1.98

-21.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.06 $4.06

7.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$4.97 $4.97

-6.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.67 $2.67

3.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.66 $2.66

8.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.24 $2.24

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.13 $3.13

-29.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 $8.87

$13.82 $13.82

-35.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$14.88 $14.88

-0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.54 $2.54

-24.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.51 $3.51

-2.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 $63.8

$73.5 $73.5

-13.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.18 $3.18

-2.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.39 $1.39

26.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.25 $30.25

$25.03 $25.03

20.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.20 $1.20

-13.33%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$35.0K $35.0K

-20.95%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.72%

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

$196 $196

$194 $194

0.73%

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

$40.32 $40.32

$69.5 $69.5

-41.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.90 $44.90

$61.6 $61.6

-27.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.00 $42.00

$47.90 $47.90

-12.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$14.03 $14.03

$17.81 $17.81

-21.22%

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

$1,415 $1,415

$1,794 $1,794

-21.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

-27.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.18 $42.18

$67.0 $67.0

-37.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.78 $29.78

$52.1 $52.1

-42.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 $88.3

$102 $102

-13.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 $56.0

$144 $144

-61.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 $988

$2,526 $2,526

-60.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$751 $751

$1,578 $1,578

-52.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,714 $1,714

$4,738 $4,738

-63.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 $1,032

$2,693 $2,693

-61.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,771 $2,771

$4,190 $4,190

-33.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,415 $2,415

$2,768 $2,768

-12.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

6.81

-6.75%

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

Last update for Alpena, MI: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Alpena, MI

$751 38.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 110% $827

Groceries & Markets

Alpena, MI

$357 18.2%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 25.2% $90

Eating Out

Alpena, MI

$324 16.5%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 6.6% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Alpena, MI

$281 14.3%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 15.8% $44

Clothing & Footwear

Alpena, MI

$97 5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 68.5% $67

Getting Around

Alpena, MI

$84 4.3%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 11.7% $9.8

Sport & Entertainment

Alpena, MI

$70 3.6%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 19.2% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $988 in Alpena, MI versus $2,526 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 $74 in Alpena, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $447 – making Alpena, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Alpena, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

14:04 2:04 PM

13:04 1:04 PM

1 h behind Alpena, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

10,637

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Alpena, MI Chicago, IL 490 km

From you

Alpena, MI
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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

Alpena, MI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,964 in Alpena, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 55% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,946 per month in Alpena, MI and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alpena, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $988 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $1,415 per month in Alpena, MI and $1,794 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alpena, MI, where all-in costs run around $1,964, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Alpena, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

For expats, Alpena, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 55% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.