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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.5% more expensive than Rochester, MI without rent, and 31% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 55.2% more expensive than Rochester, MI without rent, and 46.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.74 $17.74
17.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.9 $58.9
70.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.13 $11.13
7.55%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.73 $4.73
17.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.59 $2.59
20.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.55 $1.55
56.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.91 $5.91
16.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.87 $6.87
23.00%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.84 $0.84
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.29 $3.29
26.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.35 $3.35
64.78%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.16 $3.16
47.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.88 $11.88
20.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.15 $12.15
22.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$11.23 $11.23
72.22%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.31 $4.31
19.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.37 $1.37
24.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.47 $4.47
-1.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.38 $5.38
-16.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.09 $2.09
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.23 $2.23
22.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.01 $1.01
140.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.71 $2.71
-0.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.21 $9.21
64.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.78 $13.78
19.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.79 $1.79
31.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.62 $3.62
2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.78 $4.78
-30.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.38 $1.38
2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.93 $27.93
-8.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.2K $25.2K
28.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24K $24K
9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$118 $118
59.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.54 $45.54
39.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$61.6 $61.6
5.84%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$22.4 $22.4
242.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$34.64 $34.64
-62.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.89 $9.89
50.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$951 $951
116.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$20.2K $20.2K
93.94%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63 $63
2.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.28 $40.28
30.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$99.5 $99.5
-4.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$138 $138
4.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,189 $1,189
100.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,170 $1,170
35.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,167 $2,167
119.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,703 $1,703
65.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$4,168 $4,168
-13.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,227 $2,227
11.80%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rochester, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,503 $5,503
-4.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rochester, MI: October 28, 2025

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