Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and East Lansing, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and East Lansing, MI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 55.8% more expensive than East Lansing, MI without rent, and 37.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.1% more expensive than East Lansing, MI without rent, and 54.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$13.24 $13.24

57.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.4 $64.4

55.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.01 $10.01

19.58%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.37 $4.37

27.23%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.33 $2.33

33.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.35 $1.35

79.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$4.98 $4.98

37.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.01 $5.01

68.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.75 $0.75

38.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.93 $2.93

41.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.18 $4.18

32.06%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.57 $2.57

80.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.29 $12.29

16.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.47 $11.47

29.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.52 $15.52

24.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.88 $3.88

33.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.78 $1.78

-3.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.25 $3.25

35.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.64 $3.64

23.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.35 $2.35

7.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.02 $2.02

35.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.2 $2.2

10.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.98 $9.98

52.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.72 $15.72

4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.72 $1.72

36.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.47 $1.47

151.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.66 $1.66

52.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$50.1 $50.1

47.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.53 $2.53

32.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.36 $1.36

4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$39.37 $39.37

-35.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.34%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.7K $25.7K

2.14%

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

$188 $188

$178 $178

5.89%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$48.54 $48.54

31.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$64.2 $64.2

1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$36.58 $36.58

109.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$15.04 $15.04

-13.36%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.18 $11.18

33.54%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,482 $1,482

39.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.4K $14.4K

171.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$43.62 $43.62

47.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$36.78 $36.78

42.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$70.4 $70.4

35.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$65.8 $65.8

119.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,244 $1,244

91.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,049 $1,049

51.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,012 $2,012

136.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,626 $1,626

73.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,010 $2,010

78.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,569 $1,569

58.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,083 $6,083

-13.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for East Lansing, MI: October 29, 2025

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