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

🙂 Solo nomad: Rochester, MI is 19% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 23.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rochester, MI is 35.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.74 $17.74
$20.82 $20.82
-14.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9 $58.9
$100 $100
-41.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.13 $11.13
$11.97 $11.97
-7.02%
Cappuccino
$4.73 $4.73
$5.56 $5.56
-14.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.11 $3.11
-16.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 $1.55
$2.42 $2.42
-35.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.91 $5.91
$6.86 $6.86
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87 $6.87
$8.45 $8.45
-18.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.04 $1.04
-19.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 $3.29
$4.15 $4.15
-20.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$5.52 $5.52
-39.31%
Eggs
$3.16 $3.16
$4.65 $4.65
-32.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.88 $11.88
$14.33 $14.33
-17.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.15 $12.15
$14.88 $14.88
-18.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.23 $11.23
$19.34 $19.34
-41.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$5.17 $5.17
-16.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.71 $1.71
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$4.41 $4.41
1.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.38 $5.38
$4.51 $4.51
19.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.53 $2.53
-17.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.74 $2.74
-18.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.43 $2.43
-58.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$2.7 $2.7
0.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.21 $9.21
$15.19 $15.19
-39.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 $13.78
$16.42 $16.42
-16.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.35 $2.35
-23.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 $3.62
$3.7 $3.7
-2.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.78 $4.78
$3.34 $3.34
43.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.42 $1.42
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.93 $27.93
$25.42 $25.42
9.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K $24K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 $118
$188 $188
-37.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.54 $45.54
$63.7 $63.7
-28.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$65.2 $65.2
-5.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.4 $22.4
$76.7 $76.7
-70.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.64 $34.64
$13.03 $13.03
165.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 $9.89
$14.93 $14.93
-33.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$951 $951
$2,063 $2,063
-53.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K $20.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-48.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63 $63
$64.3 $64.3
-2.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28 $40.28
$52.4 $52.4
-23.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 $99.5
$95.2 $95.2
4.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$145 $145
-4.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,189 $1,189
$2,378 $2,378
-50.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 $1,170
$1,584 $1,584
-26.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,167 $2,167
$4,763 $4,763
-54.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,703 $1,703
$2,815 $2,815
-39.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,168 $4,168
$3,588 $3,588
16.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 $2,227
$2,490 $2,490
-10.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,503 $5,503
$5,275 $5,275
4.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Rochester, MI: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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