Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Traverse City, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Traverse City, MI

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.8% more expensive than Traverse City, MI without rent, and 16.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 4.9% more expensive than Traverse City, MI without rent, and 22.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$18.28 $18.28

13.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$70.1 $70.1

43.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.56 $9.56

25.21%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.46 $4.46

24.66%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.55 $2.55

21.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.57 $1.57

54.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.53 $5.53

24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.05 $6.05

39.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.82 $0.82

26.83%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.48 $3.48

19.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.29 $4.29

28.67%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.3 $3.3

40.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.21 $15.21

-5.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.18 $12.18

22.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.27 $15.27

26.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.69 $6.69

-22.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.9 $0.9

90.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.3 $3.3

33.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.67 $5.67

-20.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.18 $2.18

16.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.37 $3.37

-18.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.44 $2.44

-0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.44 $2.44

10.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$8.83 $8.83

72.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.9 $14.9

10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.84 $1.84

27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.64 $3.64

1.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$6.15 $6.15

-58.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$29.89 $29.89

148.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.77 $4.77

-29.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.58 $1.58

-10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.7 $27.7

-8.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.89 $0.89

21.35%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.5K $24.5K

32.56%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.00%

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

$188 $188

$118 $118

59.19%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$46.15 $46.15

38.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.2 $62.2

4.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$70.9 $70.9

8.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.19 $11.19

33.42%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$963 $963

114.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$20.9K $20.9K

87.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$63 $63

2.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$55.6 $55.6

-5.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$99.1 $99.1

-3.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$95.7 $95.7

51.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,826 $1,826

30.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,445 $1,445

9.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,742 $3,742

27.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,276 $2,276

23.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$5,087 $5,087

-29.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,563 $3,563

-30.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$2,740 $2,740

92.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.35

3.94%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Traverse City, MI: October 29, 2025

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