Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in East Lansing, MI: $2,399 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

115

Cost of Living Index in East Lansing, MI
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East Lansing, MI Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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East Lansing, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,399

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in East Lansing, MI and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in East Lansing, MI and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,399 per month in East Lansing, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

East Lansing, MI $2,399
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,525 per month in East Lansing, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

East Lansing, MI $3,525
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,651 per month in East Lansing, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

East Lansing, MI $4,651
Chicago, IL $5,999

East Lansing, MI is about 21% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both East Lansing, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – East Lansing, MI by 76%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.35 $16.35

$20.71 $20.71

-21.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$89.2 $89.2

-14.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.14 $12.14

$13.19 $13.19

-7.96%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.66 $5.66

-3.00%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$2.64 $2.64

-6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.28 $2.28

-5.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$6.87 $6.87

-28.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.49 $6.49

$8.84 $8.84

-26.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.25 $1.25

-36.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.72 $3.72

-17.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$5.39 $5.39

-13.73%

Eggs

$2.59 $2.59

$4.74 $4.74

-45.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$13.84 $13.84

-21.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.92 $16.92

$14.40 $14.40

17.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.43 $16.43

$18.38 $18.38

-10.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$5.22 $5.22

6.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.98 $1.98

-23.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.78 $6.78

$4.06 $4.06

67.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.97 $4.97

-28.77%

Potato (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$2.67 $2.67

119.85%

Onion (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$2.66 $2.66

112.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.24 $2.24

-2.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.13 $3.13

21.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.22 $10.22

$13.82 $13.82

-26.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.11 $16.11

$14.88 $14.88

8.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.54 $2.54

-22.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.51 $3.51

-56.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 $1.66

$2.43 $2.43

-31.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.2 $50.2

$73.5 $73.5

-31.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.87 $9.87

$3.18 $3.18

210.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.39 $1.39

125.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.12 $10.12

$25.03 $25.03

-59.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.20 $1.20

-16.67%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-13.09%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-4.81%

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

$233 $233

$194 $194

20.10%

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

$64.0 $64.0

$69.5 $69.5

-7.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$61.6 $61.6

3.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.43 $36.43

$47.90 $47.90

-23.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.06 $15.06

$27.34 $27.34

-44.92%

Cinema Ticket

$12.72 $12.72

$17.81 $17.81

-28.58%

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

$645 $645

$1,794 $1,794

-64.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K $11.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

-65.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 $54.3

$67.0 $67.0

-18.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.61 $37.61

$52.1 $52.1

-27.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 $70.8

$102 $102

-30.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 $85.3

$144 $144

-40.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 $1,200

$2,526 $2,526

-52.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 $1,049

$1,578 $1,578

-33.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 $2,085

$4,738 $4,738

-56.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,696 $1,696

$2,693 $2,693

-37.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,588 $1,588

$4,190 $4,190

-62.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,592 $1,592

$2,768 $2,768

-42.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,170 $6,170

$4,931 $4,931

25.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.81

-3.67%

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

Last update for East Lansing, MI: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

East Lansing, MI

$1K 43.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 50.4% $529

Groceries & Markets

East Lansing, MI

$444 18.5%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 0.7% $3.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

East Lansing, MI

$361 15.1%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 9.9% $36

Eating Out

East Lansing, MI

$289 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 19.3% $56

Clothing & Footwear

East Lansing, MI

$112 4.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 46.9% $52

Getting Around

East Lansing, MI

$82 3.4%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 13.4% $11

Sport & Entertainment

East Lansing, MI

$62 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 35% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,200 in East Lansing, MI versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in East Lansing, MI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in East Lansing, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $444 vs $447 – making East Lansing, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 East Lansing, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

06:11 6:11 AM

05:11 5:11 AM

1 h behind East Lansing, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

47,741

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

East Lansing, MI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,399 in East Lansing, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – East Lansing, MI comes out roughly 21% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,599 per month in East Lansing, MI and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in East Lansing, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,200 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in East Lansing, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 32% less in East Lansing, MI. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in East Lansing, MI, where all-in costs run around $2,399, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In East Lansing, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward East Lansing, MI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.