Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Rockford, MI: $2,489 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

121

Cost of Living Index in Rockford, MI
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Rockford, MI Living Index
147

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

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Rockford, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,489

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,489 per month in Rockford, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rockford, MI $2,489
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,732 per month in Rockford, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rockford, MI $3,732
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,974 per month in Rockford, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Rockford, MI $4,974
Chicago, IL $5,999

Rockford, MI is about 18% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Rockford, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Rockford, MI by 83%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$20.71 $20.71

-4.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.0 $74.0

$89.2 $89.2

-17.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 $9.93

$13.19 $13.19

-24.72%

Cappuccino

$4.40 $4.40

$5.66 $5.66

-22.26%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.64 $2.64

-0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.28 $2.28

-26.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 $6.15

$6.87 $6.87

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 $6.53

$8.84 $8.84

-26.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.25 $1.25

-37.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.72 $3.72

1.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$5.39 $5.39

-37.66%

Eggs

$4.37 $4.37

$4.74 $4.74

-7.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.86 $13.86

$14.40 $14.40

-3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$18.38 $18.38

-19.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$5.22 $5.22

-7.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.98 $1.98

-16.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$4.06 $4.06

-1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.90 $4.90

$4.97 $4.97

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.67 $2.67

-17.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.66 $2.66

-0.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.24 $2.24

-3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.13 $3.13

-21.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 $10.14

$13.82 $13.82

-26.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$14.88 $14.88

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.54 $2.54

-20.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.51 $3.51

-27.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.43 $2.43

-25.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.9 $51.9

$73.5 $73.5

-29.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.18 $3.18

2.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.39 $1.39

-2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.17 $25.17

$25.03 $25.03

0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.20 $1.20

-6.67%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$35.0K $35.0K

-23.41%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.27%

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

$128 $128

$194 $194

-34.07%

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

$50.6 $50.6

$69.5 $69.5

-27.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 $61.2

$61.6 $61.6

-0.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.85 $34.85

$47.90 $47.90

-27.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$13.59 $13.59

$17.81 $17.81

-23.69%

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

$907 $907

$1,794 $1,794

-49.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K $20.8K

$31.9K $31.9K

-35.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.0 $67.0

-4.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.8 $50.8

$52.1 $52.1

-2.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$102 $102

-0.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$144 $144

-18.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$2,526 $2,526

-45.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,578 $1,578

-19.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,873 $2,873

$4,738 $4,738

-39.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$2,693 $2,693

-18.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,869 $2,869

$4,190 $4,190

-31.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,369 $2,369

$2,768 $2,768

-14.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

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

Last update for Rockford, MI: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Rockford, MI

$1.3K 50.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 24.8% $314

Groceries & Markets

Rockford, MI

$402 16.1%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 11.4% $46

Eating Out

Rockford, MI

$302 12.1%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 14.1% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Rockford, MI

$240 9.6%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 35.6% $86

Clothing & Footwear

Rockford, MI

$150 6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 9.7% $14

Getting Around

Rockford, MI

$69 2.8%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 34.8% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Rockford, MI

$62 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 34.7% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,378 in Rockford, MI versus $2,526 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Rockford, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $447 – making Rockford, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Rockford, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

19:43 7:43 PM

18:43 6:43 PM

1 h behind Rockford, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

148,655

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Rockford, MI Chicago, IL 220 km

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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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,489 in Rockford, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Rockford, MI comes out roughly 18% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,734 per month in Rockford, MI and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rockford, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,378 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Rockford, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,489 in Rockford, MI and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

For expats, Rockford, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 18% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.