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: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $1,938 in Big Rapids, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $2,818 in Big Rapids, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $3,698 in Big Rapids, MI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 61% more expensive than in Big Rapids, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Big Rapids, MI 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$18.45 $18.45

7.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$59.3 $59.3

49.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$7.96 $7.96

62.56%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.31 $5.31

4.33%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.85 $2.85

-3.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.13 $2.13

10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.45 $6.45

10.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.06 $8.06

8.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.90 $0.90

48.89%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.23 $3.23

29.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$2.18 $2.18

162.84%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.77 $3.77

29.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$16.94 $16.94

-12.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.16 $13.16

12.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$14.67 $14.67

33.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.50 $3.50

59.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$0.62 $0.62

209.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.80 $3.80

9.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.40 $4.40

10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.31 $2.31

22.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.75 $2.75

1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.40 $2.40

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.99 $1.99

53.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$10.08 $10.08

60.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.75 $13.75

7.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.08 $2.08

21.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.95 $2.95

13.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.05 $2.05

24.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$24.05 $24.05

214.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.91 $2.91

13.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.53 $1.53

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$25.93 $25.93

-3.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.04 $1.04

12.50%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.1K $35.1K

2.43%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

10.35%

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

$191 $191

$196 $196

-2.53%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$58.9 $58.9

15.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$71.3 $71.3

-13.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$44.49 $44.49

42.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$12.87 $12.87

40.02%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$1,986 $1,986

-23.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$20.2K $20.2K

55.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$55.4 $55.4

14.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$34.76 $34.76

58.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$85.7 $85.7

17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$103 $103

48.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$878 $878

174.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$700 $700

136.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,546 $1,546

195.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,065 $1,065

160.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$2,614 $2,614

54.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$2,708 $2,708

1.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.68

12.32%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Big Rapids, MI: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $878 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $59.0 in Big Rapids, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $374 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,676 in Chicago, IL and $2,907 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $878 in Big Rapids, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% 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 $59.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,938 in Big Rapids, MI versus $3,117 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 61% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.