Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Rapids, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Big Rapids, MI and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Big Rapids, MI is 12.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Big Rapids, MI is 20.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.74 $15.74
$20.82 $20.82
-24.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.3 $75.3
$100 $100
-24.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 $7.88
$11.97 $11.97
-34.17%
Cappuccino
$4.72 $4.72
$5.56 $5.56
-15.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.11 $3.11
-18.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.42 $2.42
-12.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 $5.93
$6.86 $6.86
-13.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 $6.13
$8.45 $8.45
-27.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$1.04 $1.04
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 $3.17
$4.15 $4.15
-23.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$5.52 $5.52
-59.60%
Eggs
$2.6 $2.6
$4.65 $4.65
-44.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.33 $14.33
14.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.84 $9.84
$14.88 $14.88
-33.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$19.34 $19.34
-28.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$5.17 $5.17
-31.72%
Banana (1kg)
$0.59 $0.59
$1.71 $1.71
-65.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.41 $4.41
4.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.07 $5.07
$4.51 $4.51
12.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.53 $2.53
-13.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.74 $2.74
-1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.43 $2.43
-30.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.7 $2.7
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$15.19 $15.19
-35.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.38 $13.38
$16.42 $16.42
-18.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.35 $2.35
-15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.7 $3.7
-21.89%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.92 $23.92
$74.1 $74.1
-67.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.34 $3.34
-9.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.42 $1.42
7.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.36 $26.36
$25.42 $25.42
3.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.08 $1.08
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-20.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K $23.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-9.67%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 $161
$188 $188
-14.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.55 $49.55
$63.7 $63.7
-22.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$65.2 $65.2
6.49%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.17 $42.17
$76.7 $76.7
-45.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.54 $12.54
$14.93 $14.93
-16.01%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,954 $1,954
$2,063 $2,063
-5.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.1K $20.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-48.77%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$64.3 $64.3
-17.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.9 $34.9
$52.4 $52.4
-33.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$95.2 $95.2
-8.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.32%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,615 $1,615
$2,378 $2,378
-32.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$1,584 $1,584
-15.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,581 $2,581
$4,763 $4,763
-45.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,199 $2,199
$2,815 $2,815
-21.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,071 $3,071
$3,588 $3,588
-14.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,545 $2,545
$2,490 $2,490
2.19%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Big Rapids, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
6.6
-13.94%

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

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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