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 3.8% more expensive than Royal Oak, MI without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 25.9% more expensive than Royal Oak, MI without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.10 $20.10
$18.27 $18.27
10.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$67.9 $67.9
49.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$10.05 $10.05
19.60%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$5.19 $5.19
8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.29 $2.29
31.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.00 $2.00
17.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$5.96 $5.96
17.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.04 $7.04
20.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.83 $0.83
31.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.31 $3.31
24.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.69 $5.69
-2.11%
Eggs
$4.51 $4.51
$3.27 $3.27
37.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.42 $14.42
$12.28 $12.28
17.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.02 $15.02
$12.13 $12.13
23.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.98 $18.98
$20.07 $20.07
-5.43%
Apples (1kg)
$5.20 $5.20
$4.66 $4.66
11.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.46 $1.46
21.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.88 $5.88
-26.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.20 $6.20
-26.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$4.14 $4.14
-38.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$4.47 $4.47
-39.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.53 $2.53
-1.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.06 $2.06
27.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.12 $15.12
$9.65 $9.65
56.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.91 $14.91
$14.86 $14.86
0.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.96 $1.96
26.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.50 $2.50
46.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.48 $2.48
3.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 $74.3
$69.6 $69.6
6.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.43 $2.43
35.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.42 $1.42
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.96 $24.96
$25.31 $25.31
-1.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.88 $0.88
20.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K $31.4K
$34.7K $34.7K
-9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
7.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$254 $254
-26.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$55.1 $55.1
14.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 $65.8
$62.8 $62.8
4.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$43.40 $43.40
73.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.95 $12.95
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.13 $15.13
$11.12 $11.12
36.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,067 $2,067
$994 $994
107.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.8K $38.8K
$16.6K $16.6K
133.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$54.6 $54.6
17.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 $50.8
$30.87 $30.87
64.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.3 $97.3
$96.2 $96.2
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$140 $140
2.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 $2,338
$1,506 $1,506
55.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 $1,614
$1,411 $1,411
14.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,764 $4,764
$3,225 $3,225
47.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,027 $2,027
36.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,766 $3,766
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Royal Oak, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,006 $5,006
$5,896 $5,896
-15.10%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Royal Oak, MI: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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