Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Joseph, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Saint Joseph, MI

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26% more expensive than Saint Joseph, MI without rent, and 52.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 55.2% more expensive than Saint Joseph, MI without rent, and 51.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.04 $16.04
29.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$59.6 $59.6
68.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.9 $8.9
34.49%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.29 $4.29
29.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.34 $2.34
32.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.62 $1.62
49.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$3.98 $3.98
72.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$5.66 $5.66
49.29%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.81 $0.81
28.40%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.01 $3.01
37.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.01 $5.01
10.18%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.97 $3.97
17.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.97 $10.97
30.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.73 $10.73
38.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$8.36 $8.36
131.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.66 $5.66
-8.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.24 $1.24
37.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.64 $5.64
-21.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.52 $5.52
-18.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.62 $3.62
-30.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.3 $4.3
-36.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.02 $2.02
20.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.47 $1.47
83.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.02 $8.02
89.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$6.38 $6.38
157.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.78 $3.78
-2.12%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, 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
$5.02 $5.02
-33.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.55 $1.55
-8.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$50.5 $50.5
-49.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.88 $0.88
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$22.8K $22.8K
41.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$30.7K $30.7K
-14.71%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$191 $191
-1.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$57.7 $57.7
10.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.1 $71.1
-8.23%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$39.68 $39.68
93.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.39 $10.39
43.70%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$962 $962
114.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.49%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$39.96 $39.96
60.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$46.85 $46.85
11.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$75.9 $75.9
25.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$76.5 $76.5
89.17%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,049 $1,049
126.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$836 $836
89.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$1,889 $1,889
152.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,771 $1,771
58.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,395 $2,395
49.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,773 $2,773
-10.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Saint Joseph, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,832 $4,832
9.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
5.9
11.86%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Saint Joseph, MI: October 29, 2025

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