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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.3% more expensive than Grand Rapids, MI without rent, and 21.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.4% more expensive than Grand Rapids, MI without rent, and 23.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.11 $18.11
14.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$70.8 $70.8
41.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.09 $11.09
7.94%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.67 $4.67
19.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.56 $2.56
21.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.57 $1.57
54.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.84 $5.84
17.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.91 $6.91
22.29%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.85 $0.85
22.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.52 $3.52
17.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.91 $4.91
12.42%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.32 $3.32
40.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14.38 $14.38
-0.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.28 $12.28
21.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.91 $14.91
29.71%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.22 $5.22
-0.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.36 $1.36
25.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.23 $4.23
4.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.49 $4.49
0.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.21 $2.21
14.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.69 $2.69
1.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.51 $2.51
-3.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.72 $2.72
-0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.04 $9.04
68.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.18 $15.18
8.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.84 $1.84
27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.56 $3.56
3.93%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.79 $1.79
41.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$47.22 $47.22
56.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.18 $3.18
5.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.37 $1.37
3.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.69 $28.69
-11.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25K $25K
29.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24K $24K
9.25%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$120 $120
56.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$46.02 $46.02
38.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$62.3 $62.3
4.74%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$33.69 $33.69
127.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$19.61 $19.61
-33.55%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.92 $10.92
36.72%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$951 $951
116.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$21.2K $21.2K
85.09%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$64.3 $64.3
0.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.53 $40.53
29.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$94.5 $94.5
0.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$137 $137
5.46%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,886 $1,886
26.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,235 $1,235
28.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,208 $3,208
48.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,410 $2,410
16.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,053 $2,053
74.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,095 $2,095
18.85%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Grand Rapids, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,787 $3,787
39.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Grand Rapids, MI: October 29, 2025

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