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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.6% cheaper than Rockford, MI without rent, and 14.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 32.5% more expensive than Rockford, MI without rent, and 20.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.55 $20.55
1.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$70.2 $70.2
42.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.9 $10.9
9.82%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.68 $5.68
-2.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.07 $3.07
1.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.38 $2.38
1.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.12 $7.12
-3.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.42 $8.42
0.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.91 $3.91
6.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.38 $5.38
2.60%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.29 $3.29
41.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.5 $15.5
-7.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$14.98 $14.98
-0.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.37 $19.37
-0.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$10.24 $10.24
-49.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.79 $1.79
-4.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.17 $6.17
-28.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.65 $5.65
-20.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.09 $2.09
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.41 $3.41
-19.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.48 $2.48
-2.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.7 $2.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.06 $10.06
50.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.22 $16.22
1.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.8 $1.8
30.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.65 $3.65
1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.02 $2.02
25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.32 $3.32
0.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.73 $24.73
2.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.1K $25.1K
29.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24K $24K
9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$119 $119
57.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.52 $45.52
39.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$65 $65
0.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.77 $43.77
75.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$11.21 $11.21
33.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$950 $950
117.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$20.8K $20.8K
88.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.1 $63.1
1.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.13 $40.13
30.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$97.5 $97.5
-2.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$139 $139
4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,587 $1,587
49.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,372 $1,372
15.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,587 $2,587
84.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,264 $2,264
24.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,512 $2,512
42.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,346 $2,346
6.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rockford, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
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 Rockford, MI: October 29, 2025

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