Cost of Living Comparison Between Royal Oak, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Royal Oak, MI and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Royal Oak, MI is 20.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Royal Oak, MI is 5.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.86 $17.86
$20.82 $20.82
-14.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.8 $66.8
$100 $100
-33.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.91 $9.91
$11.97 $11.97
-17.21%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$5.56 $5.56
-9.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$3.11 $3.11
-29.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 $2
$2.42 $2.42
-17.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$6.86 $6.86
-10.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$8.45 $8.45
-17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.04 $1.04
-14.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.21 $3.21
$4.15 $4.15
-22.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$5.52 $5.52
5.43%
Eggs
$3.31 $3.31
$4.65 $4.65
-28.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.29 $12.29
$14.33 $14.33
-14.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.9 $11.9
$14.88 $14.88
-20.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.41 $20.41
$19.34 $19.34
5.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$5.17 $5.17
-11.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.71 $1.71
-12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$4.41 $4.41
31.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
$4.51 $4.51
34.59%
Potato (1kg)
$4 $4
$2.53 $2.53
58.10%
Onion (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$2.74 $2.74
68.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.43 $2.43
7.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.7 $2.7
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$15.19 $15.19
-35.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.11 $15.11
$16.42 $16.42
-7.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.35 $2.35
-16.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.7 $3.7
-32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.53 $2.53
-2.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.1 $69.1
$74.1 $74.1
-6.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.34 $3.34
-24.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.42 $1.42
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.11 $26.11
$25.42 $25.42
2.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K $34.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$249 $249
$188 $188
32.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.6 $55.6
$63.7 $63.7
-12.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$65.2 $65.2
-1.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.3 $43.3
$76.7 $76.7
-43.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.98 $10.98
$14.93 $14.93
-26.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,000 $1,000
$2,063 $2,063
-51.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K $16.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-56.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 $55.6
$64.3 $64.3
-13.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.59 $30.59
$52.4 $52.4
-41.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.7 $97.7
$95.2 $95.2
2.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$145 $145
-3.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,474 $1,474
$2,378 $2,378
-38.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 $1,394
$1,584 $1,584
-12.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,261 $3,261
$4,763 $4,763
-31.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 $2,020
$2,815 $2,815
-28.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,716 $2,716
$3,588 $3,588
-24.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,376 $2,376
$2,490 $2,490
-4.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Royal Oak, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,036 $6,036
$5,275 $5,275
14.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.6
-2.73%

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

Last update for Royal Oak, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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