Cost of Living Comparison Between Ann Arbor, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Ann Arbor, MI and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Ann Arbor, MI is 17.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Ann Arbor, MI is 19.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.21 $15.21
$20.82 $20.82
-26.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.1 $75.1
$100 $100
-25.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$11.97 $11.97
0.58%
Cappuccino
$4.71 $4.71
$5.56 $5.56
-15.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.11 $3.11
-13.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.42 $2.42
-10.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.96 $5.96
$6.86 $6.86
-13.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.99 $5.99
$8.45 $8.45
-29.11%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 $0.77
$1.04 $1.04
-25.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.64 $3.64
$4.15 $4.15
-12.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$5.52 $5.52
9.60%
Eggs
$2.62 $2.62
$4.65 $4.65
-43.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.8 $17.8
$14.33 $14.33
24.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.17 $10.17
$14.88 $14.88
-31.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.25 $14.25
$19.34 $19.34
-26.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.39 $5.39
$5.17 $5.17
4.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.71 $1.71
-1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.41 $4.41
4.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$4.51 $4.51
11.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.53 $2.53
-11.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.74 $2.74
33.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.43 $2.43
-29.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2.7 $2.7
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07 $10.07
$15.19 $15.19
-33.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.93 $14.93
$16.42 $16.42
-9.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.35 $2.35
-15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.7 $3.7
-5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.53 $2.53
-29.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.3 $45.3
$74.1 $74.1
-38.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.34 $3.34
-12.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.42 $1.42
7.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.71 $26.71
$25.42 $25.42
5.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.08 $1.08
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-19.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-5.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$188 $188
-17.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.14 $49.14
$63.7 $63.7
-22.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$65.2 $65.2
6.37%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.75 $43.75
$76.7 $76.7
-42.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 $17.06
$13.03 $13.03
30.93%
Cinema Ticket
$12.44 $12.44
$14.93 $14.93
-16.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,953 $1,953
$2,063 $2,063
-5.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K $20.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-48.53%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5 $54.5
$64.3 $64.3
-15.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.88 $36.88
$52.4 $52.4
-29.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 $84.4
$95.2 $95.2
-11.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.8 $99.8
$145 $145
-31.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,855 $1,855
$2,378 $2,378
-21.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,374 $1,374
$1,584 $1,584
-13.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,850 $3,850
$4,763 $4,763
-19.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,580 $2,580
$2,815 $2,815
-8.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,581 $3,581
$3,588 $3,588
-0.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,926 $2,926
$2,490 $2,490
17.48%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Ann Arbor, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,966 $4,966
$5,275 $5,275
-5.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.6
0.30%

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

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.