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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,637 in Rockford, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,864 in Rockford, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,090 in Rockford, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 17% more than Rockford, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Rockford, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Rockford, MI by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.14 $20.14

3.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$69.2 $69.2

41.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.02 $11.02

7.62%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.62 $5.62

-0.36%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.96 $2.96

3.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.46 $2.46

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.11 $7.11

0.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.09 $8.09

-0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.98 $3.98

3.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$5.47 $5.47

2.56%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.27 $3.27

37.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$15.29 $15.29

-6.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$14.90 $14.90

-0.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$18.89 $18.89

1.59%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$10.22 $10.22

-49.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.79 $1.79

-1.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.29 $6.29

-30.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.93 $5.93

-23.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.10 $2.10

20.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.40 $3.40

-19.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.41 $2.41

0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.76 $2.76

-5.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.12 $10.12

47.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.01 $15.01

-1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.79 $1.79

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.49 $3.49

6.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.05 $2.05

20.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.29 $3.29

-3.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$24.95 $24.95

-0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.84 $0.84

26.19%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.3K $24.3K

31.33%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.79%

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

$185 $185

$118 $118

56.65%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$46.12 $46.12

33.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$66.4 $66.4

0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.11 $43.11

74.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$10.95 $10.95

34.34%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$944 $944

114.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$20.8K $20.8K

89.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$63.3 $63.3

2.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$39.52 $39.52

32.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$96.4 $96.4

1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$139 $139

6.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,579 $1,579

46.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,340 $1,340

18.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,579 $2,579

78.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,259 $2,259

23.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,830 $2,830

38.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,025 $2,025

29.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Rockford, MI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,579 in Rockford, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $69.0 in Rockford, MI. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $481 in Rockford, MI – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Rockford, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,637 in Rockford, MI – roughly 17% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,955 in Rockford, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, MI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $69.0 in Rockford, MI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,637 in Rockford, MI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,637 in Rockford, MI to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Rockford, MI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.