Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Royal Oak, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Royal Oak, MI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26.4% more expensive than Royal Oak, MI without rent, and 7.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5.6% more expensive than Royal Oak, MI without rent, and 23.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.86 $17.86
16.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$66.8 $66.8
50.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.91 $9.91
20.79%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.05 $5.05
10.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.2 $2.2
41.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2 $2
21.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.12 $6.12
12.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.97 $6.97
21.23%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.89 $0.89
16.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.21 $3.21
29.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.82 $5.82
-5.15%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.31 $3.31
40.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.29 $12.29
16.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.9 $11.9
25.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.41 $20.41
-5.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.59 $4.59
12.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.5 $1.5
14.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.81 $5.81
-24.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.07 $6.07
-25.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4 $4
-36.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.61 $4.61
-40.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.62 $2.62
-7.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.13 $2.13
26.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.83 $9.83
54.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.11 $15.11
8.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.97 $1.97
19.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.51 $2.51
47.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.47 $2.47
2.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$69.1 $69.1
7.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.52 $2.52
32.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.38 $1.38
2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$26.11 $26.11
-2.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.81 $0.81
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.3K $34.3K
-5.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.9K $24.9K
5.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$249 $249
-24.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$55.6 $55.6
14.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.9 $63.9
1.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.3 $43.3
77.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.98 $10.98
35.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,000 $1,000
106.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.9K $16.9K
131.16%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$55.6 $55.6
15.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$30.59 $30.59
71.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$97.7 $97.7
-2.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$139 $139
3.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,474 $1,474
61.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,394 $1,394
13.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,261 $3,261
46.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,020 $2,020
39.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,716 $2,716
32.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,376 $2,376
4.80%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,036 $6,036
-12.61%
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 Royal Oak, MI: October 29, 2025

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