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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 12.8% more expensive than Alpena, MI without rent, and 17.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 33.5% more expensive than Alpena, MI without rent, and 28.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.94 $18.94
9.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$73.9 $73.9
35.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.83 $10.83
10.53%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.37 $4.37
27.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.95 $1.95
59.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.98 $1.98
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.12 $6.12
12.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.53 $5.53
52.80%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.03 $1.03
0.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.57 $3.57
16.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.37 $4.37
26.32%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.3 $4.3
8.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.97 $10.97
30.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$8.91 $8.91
67.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.18 $10.18
89.98%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.88 $4.88
5.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.62 $1.62
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.16 $4.16
6.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.64 $4.64
-2.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.9 $2.9
-12.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.76 $2.76
-0.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.09 $2.09
16.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.12 $2.12
27.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.69 $9.69
56.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.23 $14.23
15.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.79 $1.79
31.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.54 $3.54
4.52%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.59 $3.59
-6.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.71 $28.71
-11.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.1K $29.1K
11.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.52%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
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)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.9 $52.9
20.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.3 $68.3
-4.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.47 $43.47
76.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.53 $13.53
10.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,290 $1,290
59.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.53%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.6 $51.6
24.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.86 $39.86
31.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.6 $87.6
8.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
27.05%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,044 $1,044
127.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,333 $1,333
18.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,012 $2,012
136.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,188 $2,188
28.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,725 $2,725
31.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,571 $2,571
-3.15%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Alpena, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Alpena, MI: October 26, 2025

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