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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,620 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $3,994 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $5,368 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 17% more expensive than in Ann Arbor, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Ann Arbor, MI 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$15.54 $15.54

29.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$75.5 $75.5

31.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.93 $11.93

2.51%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.71 $4.71

18.90%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.59 $2.59

20.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.19 $2.19

10.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$5.85 $5.85

18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$5.86 $5.86

39.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.74 $3.74

6.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.89 $5.89

-5.26%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$2.72 $2.72

64.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$17.65 $17.65

-17.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.10 $10.10

49.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.99 $13.99

38.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.36 $5.36

0.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.62 $1.62

8.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.52 $4.52

-4.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.00 $5.00

-11.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.27 $2.27

11.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.67 $3.67

-26.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.73 $1.73

43.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.37 $2.37

9.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$10.09 $10.09

46.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.85 $14.85

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.02 $2.02

22.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.54 $3.54

1.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.77 $1.77

43.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$45.49 $45.49

67.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.97 $2.97

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.51 $1.51

-8.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$26.18 $26.18

-3.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.93 $0.93

17.20%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

20.59%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.5K $24.5K

8.49%

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

$186 $186

$158 $158

17.72%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$49.30 $49.30

27.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$67.9 $67.9

-2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$44.33 $44.33

75.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$16.98 $16.98

-22.50%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.66 $12.66

16.43%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,901 $1,901

7.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$20.2K $20.2K

97.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$53.6 $53.6

19.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$36.87 $36.87

38.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.3 $84.3

12.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$100 $100

43.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,831 $1,831

25.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,374 $1,374

14.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,882 $3,882

20.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,579 $2,579

6.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$5,488 $5,488

-25.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,523 $2,523

6.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$4,775 $4,775

5.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ann Arbor, MI: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,831 in Ann Arbor, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $75.0 in Ann Arbor, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $401 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

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

Chicago, IL and Ann Arbor, MI differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($3,068 vs $2,620 including rent). Ann Arbor, MI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,831 in Ann Arbor, MI. 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 $75.0 versus $99.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,620 in Ann Arbor, MI – a 17% 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, Chicago, IL and Ann Arbor, MI 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 17% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.