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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 29.7% more expensive than Battle Creek, MI without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.4% more expensive than Battle Creek, MI without rent, and 31.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.46 $17.46
19.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$64.5 $64.5
55.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.13 $10.13
18.16%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.33 $4.33
28.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.53 $2.53
22.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.77 $1.77
36.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.62 $3.62
89.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.28 $4.28
97.43%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.91 $0.91
14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.14 $3.14
32.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.65 $5.65
-2.30%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.29 $3.29
41.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.18 $11.18
28.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.82 $11.82
25.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.73 $15.73
22.95%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.67 $4.67
10.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.17 $1.17
46.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.97 $5.97
-26.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.32 $6.32
-28.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.13 $2.13
18.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.54 $2.54
7.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.09 $2.09
16.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.03 $2.03
33.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.91 $9.91
53.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.02 $12.02
36.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.09 $2.09
12.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.53 $2.53
46.25%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.94 $1.94
30.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.47 $2.47
35.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.38 $1.38
2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$47.14 $47.14
-46.08%
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
$35.4K $35.4K
-8.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.8K $24.8K
5.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$198 $198
-4.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.9 $54.9
16.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$34.5 $34.5
88.99%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.71 $42.71
79.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.84 $10.84
37.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,296 $1,296
59.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.5K $16.5K
137.34%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55 $55
17.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$31.03 $31.03
68.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$81.4 $81.4
17.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$108 $108
34.01%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,622 $1,622
46.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,353 $1,353
17.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,678 $2,678
77.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,262 $2,262
24.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,489 $2,489
44.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,757 $2,757
-9.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Battle Creek, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,011 $7,011
-24.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.42
2.80%

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 Battle Creek, MI: October 29, 2025

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