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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL versus $2,502 in Big Rapids, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,576 in Chicago, IL versus $3,607 in Big Rapids, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,143 in Chicago, IL versus $4,711 in Big Rapids, MI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 20% more expensive than in Big Rapids, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Big Rapids, MI 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$15.43 $15.43

31.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$75.5 $75.5

33.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$7.85 $7.85

53.38%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$4.64 $4.64

24.14%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.59 $2.59

14.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.19 $2.19

8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$6.17 $6.17

16.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.17 $6.17

30.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.77 $0.77

41.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.25 $3.25

26.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.17 $2.17

143.78%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$2.63 $2.63

73.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$16.66 $16.66

-13.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$10.12 $10.12

46.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$13.88 $13.88

40.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.36 $3.36

61.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.63 $0.63

171.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.56 $4.56

-8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.25 $5.25

-12.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.29 $2.29

8.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.78 $2.78

-2.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.67 $1.67

47.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.22 $2.22

22.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$10.06 $10.06

46.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$13.69 $13.69

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.83 $2.83

32.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.03 $2.03

21.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$23.53 $23.53

214.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.93 $2.93

13.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.57 $1.57

-12.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$26.45 $26.45

-6.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.92 $0.92

14.13%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

26.94%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.66%

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

$186 $186

$158 $158

18.21%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$49.16 $49.16

27.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$68.0 $68.0

-0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.94 $42.94

75.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$12.26 $12.26

23.16%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$1,945 $1,945

4.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$20.1K $20.1K

98.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$54.4 $54.4

18.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$35.09 $35.09

45.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$83.3 $83.3

15.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$102 $102

44.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,580 $1,580

47.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,357 $1,357

15.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$2,612 $2,612

79.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$2,237 $2,237

25.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$3,097 $3,097

31.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$2,727 $2,727

-3.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.68

16.20%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,329 in Chicago, IL and $1,580 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $101 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Big Rapids, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $355 per month, with Big Rapids, MI cheaper across the board.

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

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

Big Rapids, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,513 in Chicago, IL and $3,754 in Big Rapids, MI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,580 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Big Rapids, MI – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $101 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Big Rapids, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Big Rapids, MI is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Big Rapids, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Big Rapids, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.