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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,528 in Big Rapids, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,681 in Big Rapids, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $4,835 in Big Rapids, MI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 22% more expensive than Big Rapids, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Big Rapids, MI 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$15.27 $15.27

36.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$76.1 $76.1

28.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$8.07 $8.07

46.96%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.68 $4.68

19.66%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.64 $2.64

16.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.19 $2.19

12.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.97 $5.97

19.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.11 $6.11

32.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.83 $0.83

26.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.37 $3.37

21.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.21 $2.21

153.85%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.71 $2.71

66.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$16.51 $16.51

-13.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.01 $10.01

48.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$13.97 $13.97

37.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.36 $3.36

52.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.61 $0.61

190.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$4.46 $4.46

-1.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.02 $5.02

-9.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.22 $2.22

14.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.73 $2.73

0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.71 $1.71

41.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.16 $2.16

21.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.15 $10.15

47.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.23 $13.23

11.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.95 $1.95

26.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.79 $2.79

33.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.99 $1.99

24.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$24.02 $24.02

214.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.07 $3.07

3.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.52 $1.52

-6.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$26.76 $26.76

-6.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.88 $0.88

20.45%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

22.17%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.70%

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

$185 $185

$156 $156

18.30%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$49.48 $49.48

24.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$67.7 $67.7

-1.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.50 $42.50

76.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$12.26 $12.26

19.98%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,918 $1,918

5.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$20.0K $20.0K

97.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$54.6 $54.6

18.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$35.70 $35.70

46.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$84.0 $84.0

16.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$99.5 $99.5

48.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,571 $1,571

47.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,360 $1,360

16.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,626 $2,626

75.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,256 $2,256

23.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,882 $2,882

36.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,412 $2,412

8.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,571 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Big Rapids, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $353 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $3,792 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,571 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 $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,528 in Big Rapids, MI versus $3,077 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.

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 22% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.