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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,717 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,233 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $4,599 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,749 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $6,092 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Ann Arbor, MI costs roughly 13% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ann Arbor, MI 98% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.56 $18.56

$19.86 $19.86

-6.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.3 $60.3

$88.3 $88.3

-31.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.11 $12.11

$13.23 $13.23

-8.47%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.86 $5.86

-13.48%

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

$2.91 $2.91

$2.61 $2.61

11.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.32 $2.32

-9.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.40 $6.40

$7.03 $7.03

-8.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$9.25 $9.25

-13.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.34 $1.34

-29.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.83 $3.83

$4.19 $4.19

-8.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.50 $5.50

-9.82%

Eggs

$3.75 $3.75

$4.71 $4.71

-20.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.72 $14.72

30.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.47 $13.47

$14.53 $14.53

-7.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.93 $14.93

$19.69 $19.69

-24.17%

Apples (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$5.64 $5.64

22.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.97 $1.97

-0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$4.04 $4.04

-6.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.07 $5.07

-13.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.94 $2.94

-19.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.92 $2.92

-1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.28 $2.28

6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$3.12 $3.12

-36.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 $10.01

$16.19 $16.19

-38.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$15.17 $15.17

-2.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.67 $2.67

-22.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.48 $3.48

7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.54 $2.54

-30.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.52 $45.52

$76.0 $76.0

-40.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.16 $3.16

-3.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.37 $1.37

14.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.71 $26.71

$22.66 $22.66

17.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 $1.20

-15.00%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.0K $37.0K

-3.12%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.99%

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

$196 $196

$190 $190

3.63%

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

$57.5 $57.5

$68.5 $68.5

-16.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.2 $73.2

$61.1 $61.1

19.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.3 $64.3

$63.8 $63.8

0.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.60 $19.60

$27.80 $27.80

-29.50%

Cinema Ticket

$12.95 $12.95

$18.28 $18.28

-29.16%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,525 $1,525

32.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K $20.1K

$32.0K $32.0K

-37.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$64.0 $64.0

-13.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.91 $42.91

$54.4 $54.4

-21.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$101 $101

13.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$153 $153

-30.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 $2,070

$2,421 $2,421

-14.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 $1,414

$1,690 $1,690

-16.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,881 $3,881

$4,584 $4,584

-15.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,661 $2,661

$2,782 $2,782

-4.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,420 $5,420

$4,170 $4,170

30.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,518 $2,518

$2,739 $2,739

-8.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,815 $4,815

$4,777 $4,777

0.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.38

-4.70%

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

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,070 in Ann Arbor, MI and $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ann Arbor, MI pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Ann Arbor, MI vs $88.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $430 vs $465 per month, with Ann Arbor, MI cheaper across the board.

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

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

Ann Arbor, MI and Chicago, IL differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,717 vs $3,106 including rent). Ann Arbor, MI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Ann Arbor, MI, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,070 in Ann Arbor, MI versus $2,421 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Ann Arbor, MI – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,717 per month in Ann Arbor, MI versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Ann Arbor, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ann Arbor, MI and Chicago, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ann Arbor, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.