Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Rapids, MI: $2,440 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

118

Cost of Living Index in Grand Rapids, MI
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Grand Rapids, MI Living Index
147

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

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Grand Rapids, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,440

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,440 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Grand Rapids, MI $2,440
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,757 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Grand Rapids, MI $3,757
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,074 per month in Grand Rapids, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Grand Rapids, MI $5,074
Chicago, IL $5,999

Grand Rapids, MI is about 20% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Grand Rapids, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Grand Rapids, MI by 79%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$20.71 $20.71

-4.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.8 $74.8

$89.2 $89.2

-16.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$13.19 $13.19

-25.32%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$5.66 $5.66

-19.43%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$2.64 $2.64

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.28 $2.28

-25.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.87 $6.87

-13.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.57 $6.57

$8.84 $8.84

-25.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.25 $1.25

-32.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.72 $3.72

-1.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$5.39 $5.39

-39.15%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$4.74 $4.74

-9.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$13.84 $13.84

8.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.70 $13.70

$14.40 $14.40

-4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.96 $14.96

$18.38 $18.38

-18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.22 $5.22

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.98 $1.98

-17.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.06 $4.06

39.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.97 $4.97

21.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.67 $2.67

-21.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.66 $2.66

41.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.24 $2.24

24.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.13 $3.13

-18.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.45 $10.45

$13.82 $13.82

-24.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$14.88 $14.88

-1.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.54 $2.54

-21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$3.51 $3.51

-25.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.43 $2.43

-29.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.24 $47.24

$73.5 $73.5

-35.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.18 $3.18

45.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.39 $1.39

46.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.67 $31.67

$25.03 $25.03

26.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.20 $1.20

-8.33%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-22.76%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.43%

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

$131 $131

$194 $194

-32.38%

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

$49.23 $49.23

$69.5 $69.5

-29.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$61.6 $61.6

18.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 $41.54

$47.90 $47.90

-13.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.22 $20.22

$27.34 $27.34

-26.04%

Cinema Ticket

$13.51 $13.51

$17.81 $17.81

-24.14%

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

$899 $899

$1,794 $1,794

-49.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K $20.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-34.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$67.0 $67.0

-4.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.0 $77.0

$52.1 $52.1

47.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$144 $144

-17.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 $1,732

$2,526 $2,526

-31.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,162 $1,162

$1,578 $1,578

-26.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,498 $2,498

$4,738 $4,738

-47.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,154 $2,154

$2,693 $2,693

-20.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,928 $2,928

$4,190 $4,190

-30.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,061 $2,061

$2,768 $2,768

-25.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,906 $3,906

$4,931 $4,931

-20.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

6.81

0.15%

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

Last update for Grand Rapids, 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

Grand Rapids, MI

$1.2K 47.6%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 35.8% $416

Groceries & Markets

Grand Rapids, MI

$422 17.3%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 6% $25

Eating Out

Grand Rapids, MI

$303 12.4%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 13.7% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Grand Rapids, MI

$254 10.4%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 28.4% $72

Clothing & Footwear

Grand Rapids, MI

$162 6.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 1.3% $2.1

Getting Around

Grand Rapids, MI

$69 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 35.5% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Grand Rapids, MI

$69 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 21.8% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,732 in Grand Rapids, 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 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Grand Rapids, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $422 vs $447 – making Grand Rapids, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Grand Rapids, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

17:21 5:21 PM

16:21 4:21 PM

1 h behind Grand Rapids, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

198,917

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 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

Grand Rapids, MI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,440 in Grand Rapids, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Grand Rapids, MI comes out roughly 20% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,660 per month in Grand Rapids, 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 Grand Rapids, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,732 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Grand Rapids, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

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

If budget matters most, go with Grand Rapids, MI. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.