Cost of Living Comparison Between Battle Creek, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Battle Creek, MI and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Battle Creek, MI is 22.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Battle Creek, MI is 20.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46 $17.46
$20.82 $20.82
-16.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 $64.5
$100 $100
-35.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 $10.13
$11.97 $11.97
-15.37%
Cappuccino
$4.33 $4.33
$5.56 $5.56
-22.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.42 $2.42
-26.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.62 $3.62
$6.86 $6.86
-47.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 $4.28
$8.45 $8.45
-49.35%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.04 $1.04
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 $3.14
$4.15 $4.15
-24.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$5.52 $5.52
2.36%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$4.65 $4.65
-29.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.18 $11.18
$14.33 $14.33
-21.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.82 $11.82
$14.88 $14.88
-20.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.73 $15.73
$19.34 $19.34
-18.67%
Apples (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$5.17 $5.17
-9.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.71 $1.71
-31.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.97 $5.97
$4.41 $4.41
35.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$4.51 $4.51
40.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.53 $2.53
-15.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.74 $2.74
-7.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.43 $2.43
-13.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.7 $2.7
-24.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$15.19 $15.19
-34.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 $12.02
$16.42 $16.42
-26.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.35 $2.35
-11.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.7 $3.7
-31.62%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.53 $2.53
-23.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.34 $3.34
-26.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.42 $1.42
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.14 $47.14
$25.42 $25.42
85.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
9.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.45%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 $198
$188 $188
5.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.9 $54.9
$63.7 $63.7
-13.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.5 $34.5
$65.2 $65.2
-47.09%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.71 $42.71
$76.7 $76.7
-44.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.84 $10.84
$14.93 $14.93
-27.39%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,296 $1,296
$2,063 $2,063
-37.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K $16.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-57.87%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55 $55
$64.3 $64.3
-14.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.03 $31.03
$52.4 $52.4
-40.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 $81.4
$95.2 $95.2
-14.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 $108
$145 $145
-25.38%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$2,378 $2,378
-31.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 $1,353
$1,584 $1,584
-14.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,678 $2,678
$4,763 $4,763
-43.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 $2,262
$2,815 $2,815
-19.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,489 $2,489
$3,588 $3,588
-30.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,757 $2,757
$2,490 $2,490
10.71%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Battle Creek, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,011 $7,011
$5,275 $5,275
32.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

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

Last update for Battle Creek, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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