Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between East Lansing, MI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: East Lansing, MI is 35.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 27.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: East Lansing, MI is 28.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 35.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.24 $13.24

$20.82 $20.82

-36.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.4 $64.4

$100 $100

-35.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.01 $10.01

$11.97 $11.97

-16.37%

Cappuccino

$4.37 $4.37

$5.56 $5.56

-21.40%

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

$2.33 $2.33

$3.11 $3.11

-25.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 $1.35

$2.42 $2.42

-44.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$6.86 $6.86

-27.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 $5.01

$8.45 $8.45

-40.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.04 $1.04

-27.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 $2.93

$4.15 $4.15

-29.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.52 $5.52

-24.28%

Eggs

$2.57 $2.57

$4.65 $4.65

-44.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$14.33 $14.33

-14.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.47 $11.47

$14.88 $14.88

-22.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.52 $15.52

$19.34 $19.34

-19.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$5.17 $5.17

-24.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.71 $1.71

4.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$4.41 $4.41

-26.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$4.51 $4.51

-19.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.53 $2.53

-7.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.74 $2.74

-26.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.43 $2.43

-9.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.7 $2.7

-18.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 $9.98

$15.19 $15.19

-34.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.72 $15.72

$16.42 $16.42

-4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.35 $2.35

-26.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.7 $3.7

-60.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.53 $2.53

-34.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 $50.1

$74.1 $74.1

-32.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.34 $3.34

-24.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.42 $1.42

-4.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.37 $39.37

$25.42 $25.42

54.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.54%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.09%

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

$178 $178

$188 $188

-5.56%

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

$48.54 $48.54

$63.7 $63.7

-23.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.2 $64.2

$65.2 $65.2

-1.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.58 $36.58

$76.7 $76.7

-52.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.03 $13.03

15.43%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 $11.18

$14.93 $14.93

-25.12%

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

$1,482 $1,482

$2,063 $2,063

-28.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K $14.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-63.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.62 $43.62

$64.3 $64.3

-32.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 $36.78

$52.4 $52.4

-29.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 $70.4

$95.2 $95.2

-26.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.8 $65.8

$145 $145

-54.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 $1,244

$2,378 $2,378

-47.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 $1,049

$1,584 $1,584

-33.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 $2,012

$4,763 $4,763

-57.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 $1,626

$2,815 $2,815

-42.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,010 $2,010

$3,588 $3,588

-43.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 $1,569

$2,490 $2,490

-36.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,083 $6,083

$5,275 $5,275

15.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for East Lansing, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Barcelona

🇪🇸 Spain

Athens

🇬🇷 Greece

Madrid

🇪🇸 Spain

Rome

🇮🇹 Italy

Brisbane

🇦🇺 Australia

Turin

🇮🇹 Italy

Tokyo

🇯🇵 Japan

Abu Dhabi

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates