Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Big Rapids, MI: $1,964 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
94

Cost of Living Index in Big Rapids, MI
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Big Rapids, MI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Big Rapids, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$1,964

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Big Rapids, MI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Big Rapids, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL versus $1,964 in Big Rapids, MI.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Big Rapids, MI $1,964

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,545 in Chicago, IL versus $2,863 in Big Rapids, MI.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Big Rapids, MI $2,863

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,019 in Chicago, IL versus $3,762 in Big Rapids, MI.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Big Rapids, MI $3,762

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 56% more expensive than in Big Rapids, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 127% above, Big Rapids, MI 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$18.63 $18.63

9.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$60.8 $60.8

45.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$7.86 $7.86

63.49%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.04 $5.04

14.68%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.86 $2.86

-4.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.10 $2.10

7.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.35 $6.35

8.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$8.04 $8.04

14.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.83 $0.83

51.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.22 $3.22

10.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.25 $2.25

139.11%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.80 $3.80

19.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$16.88 $16.88

-19.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$13.24 $13.24

6.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$14.48 $14.48

24.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.50 $3.50

47.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.62 $0.62

219.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.82 $3.82

1.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.44 $4.44

8.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.41 $2.41

16.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.82 $2.82

-5.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.38 $2.38

-13.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.97 $1.97

53.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.50 $10.50

32.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.29 $13.29

13.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.15 $2.15

22.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.82 $2.82

22.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.99 $1.99

22.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$59.2 $59.2

27.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.08 $3.08

2.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$26.72 $26.72

-6.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.08 $1.08

18.52%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$29.5K $29.5K

21.39%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

13.84%

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

$192 $192

$201 $201

-4.69%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$57.7 $57.7

20.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$74.0 $74.0

-15.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$35.19 $35.19

35.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$13.20 $13.20

35.08%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$2,035 $2,035

-10.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$20.1K $20.1K

102.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$55.7 $55.7

18.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$34.98 $34.98

46.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$88.3 $88.3

17.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$103 $103

37.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$897 $897

182.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$691 $691

134.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$1,546 $1,546

212.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,040 $1,040

162.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$3,161 $3,161

31.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,455 $2,455

10.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

5.68

19.37%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Big Rapids, MI

$691 35.2% 57.4% $930

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Big Rapids, MI

$373 19% 15.2% $67

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Big Rapids, MI

$301 15.3% 12.6% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Big Rapids, MI

$333 17% 2.9% $9.3

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Big Rapids, MI

$127 6.5% 22.3% $37

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Big Rapids, MI

$78 4% 19.1% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Big Rapids, MI

$62 3.1% 26.2% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,531 in Chicago, IL and $897 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $89 in Chicago, IL vs $61 in Big Rapids, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $439 vs $373 per month, with Big Rapids, MI cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Big Rapids, MI

🕒 Local time

04:06 4:06 AM

05:06 5:06 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

10,565

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Big Rapids, MI 270 km

From you

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 about 36% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $4,608 in Chicago, IL and $2,947 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: $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $897 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% 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 $61 versus $89 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,964 in Big Rapids, MI versus $3,072 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Big Rapids, MI but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Big Rapids, MI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Big Rapids, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.