Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalamazoo, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalamazoo, MI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Kalamazoo, MI is 16.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 37.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kalamazoo, MI is 34.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.83 $17.83
$20.82 $20.82
-14.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6 $50.6
$100 $100
-49.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.58 $9.58
$11.97 $11.97
-19.97%
Cappuccino
$4.91 $4.91
$5.56 $5.56
-11.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.11 $3.11
-20.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$2.42 $2.42
-24.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 $3.43
$6.86 $6.86
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 $6.05
$8.45 $8.45
-28.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.04 $1.04
-25.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.07 $3.07
$4.15 $4.15
-26.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$5.52 $5.52
-4.89%
Eggs
$2.67 $2.67
$4.65 $4.65
-42.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.17 $9.17
$14.33 $14.33
-36.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.31 $11.31
$14.88 $14.88
-23.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.79 $10.79
$19.34 $19.34
-44.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$5.17 $5.17
-10.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.71 $1.71
-28.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.79 $5.79
$4.41 $4.41
31.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$4.51 $4.51
34.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.74 $2.74
-11.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.43 $2.43
-18.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.7 $2.7
-30.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07 $7.07
$15.19 $15.19
-53.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$16.42 $16.42
-7.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.35 $2.35
-14.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.7 $3.7
-31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60 $60
$74.1 $74.1
-19.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.34 $3.34
-23.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.42 $1.42
0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.58 $48.58
$25.42 $25.42
91.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
8.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 $120
$188 $188
-36.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$63.7 $63.7
-14.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$65.2 $65.2
-20.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.21 $40.21
$76.7 $76.7
-47.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.74 $15.74
$13.03 $13.03
20.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.46 $9.46
$14.93 $14.93
-36.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$655 $655
$2,063 $2,063
-68.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K $10.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-72.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 $54.2
$64.3 $64.3
-15.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.67 $21.67
$52.4 $52.4
-58.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 $95.7
$95.2 $95.2
0.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 $1,202
$2,378 $2,378
-49.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 $714
$1,584 $1,584
-54.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,459 $2,459
$4,763 $4,763
-48.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 $1,568
$2,815 $2,815
-44.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,227 $2,227
$3,588 $3,588
-37.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,062 $2,062
$2,490 $2,490
-17.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalamazoo, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,459 $3,459
$5,275 $5,275
-34.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

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

Last update for Kalamazoo, MI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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