Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Rochester, MI: $2,366 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

112

Cost of Living Index in Rochester, MI
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Rochester, MI Living Index
146

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

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Rochester, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,366

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,366 per month in Rochester, MI vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rochester, MI $2,366
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,382 per month in Rochester, MI vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rochester, MI $3,382
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,398 per month in Rochester, MI vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rochester, MI $4,398
Chicago, IL $6,019

Rochester, MI is about 23% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Rochester, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Rochester, MI by 75%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.32 $16.32

$20.39 $20.39

-19.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.6 $74.6

$88.6 $88.6

-15.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$12.85 $12.85

-5.84%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$5.78 $5.78

-8.65%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$2.74 $2.74

4.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.26 $2.26

-2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$6.88 $6.88

-29.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 $5.83

$9.24 $9.24

-36.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.26 $1.26

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.55 $3.55

-17.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$5.38 $5.38

-36.80%

Eggs

$2.75 $2.75

$4.55 $4.55

-39.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 $11.06

$13.65 $13.65

-18.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.52 $17.52

$14.07 $14.07

24.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 $10.86

$18.06 $18.06

-39.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.16 $5.16

-35.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.98 $1.98

-21.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.88 $3.88

12.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.83 $4.83

-26.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.81 $2.81

-20.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.67 $2.67

-16.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.07 $2.07

-50.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$5.46 $5.46

$3.03 $3.03

80.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 $9.95

$13.90 $13.90

-28.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$15.05 $15.05

-0.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.63 $2.63

-11.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.99 $4.99

$3.45 $3.45

44.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.18 $10.18

$3.17 $3.17

221.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.70 $1.70

85.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.10 $10.10

$24.90 $24.90

-59.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.28 $1.28

-24.22%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$35.8K $35.8K

-14.62%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.52%

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

$133 $133

$192 $192

-30.88%

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

$64.1 $64.1

$69.6 $69.6

-7.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.3 $52.3

$62.2 $62.2

-15.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.32 $22.32

$47.79 $47.79

-53.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.76 $34.76

$27.10 $27.10

28.27%

Cinema Ticket

$9.91 $9.91

$17.83 $17.83

-44.42%

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

$644 $644

$1,815 $1,815

-64.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K $10.0K

$40.6K $40.6K

-75.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 $61.4

$66.2 $66.2

-7.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.83 $49.83

$51.4 $51.4

-3.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$143 $143

-17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,182 $1,182

$2,531 $2,531

-53.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$1,621 $1,621

-25.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,196 $2,196

$4,828 $4,828

-54.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 $1,726

$2,734 $2,734

-36.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,261 $4,261

$4,163 $4,163

2.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,197 $2,197

$2,723 $2,723

-19.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,476 $5,476

$4,924 $4,924

11.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.78

-3.24%

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

Last update for Rochester, MI: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Rochester, MI

$1.2K 50.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 34.7% $418

Groceries & Markets

Rochester, MI

$409 17.3%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 7.4% $30

Eating Out

Rochester, MI

$287 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 20% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Rochester, MI

$249 10.5%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 30% $75

Clothing & Footwear

Rochester, MI

$150 6.3%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 9.3% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Rochester, MI

$42 1.8%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 98.1% $41

Getting Around

Rochester, MI

$26 * 1.1%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 273% $71

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,182 in Rochester, MI versus $2,531 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 11% higher in Rochester, MI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Rochester, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $439 – making Rochester, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Rochester, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:35 10:35 AM

09:35 9:35 AM

1 h behind Rochester, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

211,328

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Rochester, MI Chicago, IL 380 km

From you

Rochester, MI
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,366 in Rochester, MI, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Rochester, MI comes out roughly 23% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,548 per month in Rochester, MI and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rochester, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,182 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

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

Groceries cost about 7% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

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