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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Rockford, MI is 1.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Rockford, MI is 24.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.55 $20.55
$20.82 $20.82
-1.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2 $70.2
$100 $100
-30.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.9 $10.9
$11.97 $11.97
-8.94%
Cappuccino
$5.68 $5.68
$5.56 $5.56
2.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.11 $3.11
-1.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.42 $2.42
-1.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.12 $7.12
$6.86 $6.86
3.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.42 $8.42
$8.45 $8.45
-0.36%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.91 $3.91
$4.15 $4.15
-5.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.38 $5.38
$5.52 $5.52
-2.54%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$4.65 $4.65
-29.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.5 $15.5
$14.33 $14.33
8.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.98 $14.98
$14.88 $14.88
0.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.37 $19.37
$19.34 $19.34
0.16%
Apples (1kg)
$10.24 $10.24
$5.17 $5.17
98.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.71 $1.71
4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$4.41 $4.41
39.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$4.51 $4.51
25.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.53 $2.53
-17.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.74 $2.74
24.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.43 $2.43
2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.7 $2.7
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.06 $10.06
$15.19 $15.19
-33.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.22 $16.22
$16.42 $16.42
-1.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.35 $2.35
-23.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$3.7 $3.7
-1.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.53 $2.53
-20.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.34 $3.34
-0.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.73 $24.73
$25.42 $25.42
-2.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K $24K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.56%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 $119
$188 $188
-36.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.52 $45.52
$63.7 $63.7
-28.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65 $65
$65.2 $65.2
-0.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.77 $43.77
$76.7 $76.7
-42.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.21 $11.21
$14.93 $14.93
-24.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$950 $950
$2,063 $2,063
-53.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K $20.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-47.01%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 $63.1
$64.3 $64.3
-1.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 $40.13
$52.4 $52.4
-23.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.5 $97.5
$95.2 $95.2
2.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$145 $145
-4.13%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,587 $1,587
$2,378 $2,378
-33.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 $1,372
$1,584 $1,584
-13.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,587 $2,587
$4,763 $4,763
-45.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,264 $2,264
$2,815 $2,815
-19.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,512 $2,512
$3,588 $3,588
-29.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,346 $2,346
$2,490 $2,490
-5.78%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Rockford, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rockford, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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