Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kalamazoo, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Kalamazoo, MI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 20.2% more expensive than Kalamazoo, MI without rent, and 61.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 53.6% more expensive than Kalamazoo, MI without rent, and 57.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.83 $17.83
16.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$50.6 $50.6
98.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.58 $9.58
24.95%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.91 $4.91
13.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.48 $2.48
25.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.83 $1.83
32.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.43 $3.43
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.05 $6.05
39.67%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.77 $0.77
35.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.07 $3.07
35.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.25 $5.25
5.14%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.67 $2.67
74.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.17 $9.17
56.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.31 $11.31
31.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.79 $10.79
79.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.65 $4.65
11.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.23 $1.23
39.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.79 $5.79
-23.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.06 $6.06
-25.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.42 $2.42
13.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.97 $1.97
23.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.87 $1.87
44.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.07 $7.07
114.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.27 $15.27
7.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.01 $2.01
16.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.53 $2.53
46.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.98 $1.98
27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$60 $60
23.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.54 $2.54
31.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.43 $1.43
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$48.58 $48.58
-47.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$35.1K $35.1K
-7.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.2K $24.2K
8.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$120 $120
57.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$54.4 $54.4
17.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$52.1 $52.1
25.17%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.21 $40.21
90.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$15.74 $15.74
-17.22%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.46 $9.46
57.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$655 $655
214.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$10.9K $10.9K
257.86%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$54.2 $54.2
18.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$21.67 $21.67
141.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$95.7 $95.7
-0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$111 $111
30.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,202 $1,202
97.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$714 $714
122.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,459 $2,459
93.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,568 $1,568
79.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,227 $2,227
61.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,062 $2,062
20.80%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Kalamazoo, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,459 $3,459
52.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.42
2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Kalamazoo, MI: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.