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

🙂 Solo nomad: Lansing, MI is 27.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 38.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lansing, MI is 22.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 40.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 $17.67
$20.82 $20.82
-15.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.8 $73.8
$100 $100
-26.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.09 $12.09
$11.97 $11.97
1.00%
Cappuccino
$4.35 $4.35
$5.56 $5.56
-21.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$3.11 $3.11
-24.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.42 $2.42
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.15 $5.15
$6.86 $6.86
-24.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85 $5.85
$8.45 $8.45
-30.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.04 $1.04
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.15 $4.15
-33.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4 $4
$5.52 $5.52
-27.54%
Eggs
$2.68 $2.68
$4.65 $4.65
-42.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.33 $7.33
$14.33 $14.33
-48.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$14.88 $14.88
-21.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.44 $15.44
$19.34 $19.34
-20.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$5.17 $5.17
-26.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.71 $1.71
3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.41 $4.41
-24.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$4.51 $4.51
-31.93%
Potato (1kg)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.53 $2.53
-7.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.74 $2.74
-27.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.43 $2.43
2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.7 $2.7
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.01 $9.01
$15.19 $15.19
-40.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 $15.27
$16.42 $16.42
-7.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.35 $2.35
-17.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.7 $3.7
-17.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.53 $2.53
-39.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.2 $30.2
$74.1 $74.1
-59.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.34 $3.34
-23.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.42 $1.42
1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.06 $10.06
$25.42 $25.42
-60.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.08 $1.08
-25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-23.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$188 $188
-8.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.03 $46.03
$63.7 $63.7
-27.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8 $58.8
$65.2 $65.2
-9.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.53 $31.53
$76.7 $76.7
-58.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.66 $22.66
$13.03 $13.03
73.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.38 $9.38
$14.93 $14.93
-37.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$298 $298
$2,063 $2,063
-85.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K $14.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-63.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.98 $43.98
$64.3 $64.3
-31.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.24 $44.24
$52.4 $52.4
-15.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.9 $68.9
$95.2 $95.2
-27.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8 $64.8
$145 $145
-55.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$888 $888
$2,378 $2,378
-62.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 $794
$1,584 $1,584
-49.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,783 $1,783
$4,763 $4,763
-62.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 $1,221
$2,815 $2,815
-56.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,795 $5,795
$3,588 $3,588
61.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,215 $5,215
$2,490 $2,490
109.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lansing, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,169 $3,169
$5,275 $5,275
-39.93%
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 Lansing, MI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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