Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Rapids, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Grand Rapids, MI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Grand Rapids, MI is 15.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Grand Rapids, MI is 17.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.11 $18.11

$20.82 $20.82

-13.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.8 $70.8

$100 $100

-29.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$11.97 $11.97

-7.35%

Cappuccino

$4.67 $4.67

$5.56 $5.56

-16.01%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$3.11 $3.11

-17.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.42 $2.42

-35.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.86 $6.86

-14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 $6.91

$8.45 $8.45

-18.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.04 $1.04

-18.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.15 $4.15

-15.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$5.52 $5.52

-11.05%

Eggs

$3.32 $3.32

$4.65 $4.65

-28.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 $14.38

$14.33 $14.33

0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$14.88 $14.88

-17.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$19.34 $19.34

-22.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.17 $5.17

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.71 $1.71

-20.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.41 $4.41

-4.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.51 $4.51

-0.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.53 $2.53

-12.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.74 $2.74

-1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.43 $2.43

3.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.7 $2.7

0.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

$15.19 $15.19

-40.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$16.42 $16.42

-7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.35 $2.35

-21.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.7 $3.7

-3.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.53 $2.53

-29.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.22 $47.22

$74.1 $74.1

-36.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.34 $3.34

-4.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.69 $28.69

$25.42 $25.42

12.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.08 $1.08

-20.37%

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

$25K $25K

$32.4K $32.4K

-22.83%

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

$24K $24K

$26.2K $26.2K

-8.47%

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

$120 $120

$188 $188

-36.08%

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

$46.02 $46.02

$63.7 $63.7

-27.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.3 $62.3

$65.2 $65.2

-4.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.69 $33.69

$76.7 $76.7

-56.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.61 $19.61

$13.03 $13.03

50.50%

Cinema Ticket

$10.92 $10.92

$14.93 $14.93

-26.86%

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

$951 $951

$2,063 $2,063

-53.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-45.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

-0.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.53 $40.53

$52.4 $52.4

-22.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 $94.5

$95.2 $95.2

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$145 $145

-5.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,886 $1,886

$2,378 $2,378

-20.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 $1,235

$1,584 $1,584

-22.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,208 $3,208

$4,763 $4,763

-32.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,410 $2,410

$2,815 $2,815

-14.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,053 $2,053

$3,588 $3,588

-42.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 $2,095

$2,490 $2,490

-15.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,787 $3,787

$5,275 $5,275

-28.21%

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 Grand Rapids, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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