Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bloomfield Hills, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bloomfield Hills, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,445 in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $3,553 in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $4,660 in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than in Bloomfield Hills, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Bloomfield Hills, MI 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.81 $20.81
$17.95 $17.95
15.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.6 $98.6
$54.6 $54.6
80.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 $11.90
$9.08 $9.08
31.06%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.53 $5.53
5.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.23 $2.23
37.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.91 $1.91
23.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$3.89 $3.89
76.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.07 $8.07
$6.37 $6.37
26.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.79 $0.79
32.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.11 $3.11
27.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.60 $5.60
$2.18 $2.18
156.88%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.09 $4.09
11.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 $14.20
$9.83 $9.83
44.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.90 $14.90
$12.17 $12.17
22.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.08 $19.08
$20.24 $20.24
-5.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$4.42 $4.42
20.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.53 $1.53
11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$3.37 $3.37
25.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$3.90 $3.90
12.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$4.15 $4.15
-38.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.80 $2.80
$5.04 $5.04
-44.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.55 $2.55
-3.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.40 $2.40
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.95 $14.95
$10.11 $10.11
47.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$14.87 $14.87
-0.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.94 $1.94
22.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 $3.57
$3.14 $3.14
13.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.04 $2.04
19.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.2 $75.2
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.70 $2.70
24.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.38 $1.38
-0.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.29 $25.29
$25.33 $25.33
-0.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.82 $0.82
32.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K $32.3K
$34.4K $34.4K
-6.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$139 $139
35.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.3 $63.3
$40.67 $40.67
55.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2 $66.2
$64.1 $64.1
3.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.6 $75.6
$43.17 $43.17
75.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.20 $13.20
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.80 $14.80
$12.06 $12.06
22.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,097 $2,097
$1,019 $1,019
105.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$18.5K $18.5K
108.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.9 $64.9
$55.1 $55.1
17.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 $51.6
$45.65 $45.65
13.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.3 $96.3
$36.13 $36.13
166.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146 $146
$142 $142
2.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,332 $2,332
$1,600 $1,600
45.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 $1,579
$1,358 $1,358
16.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,775 $4,775
$2,648 $2,648
80.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,725 $2,725
$2,209 $2,209
23.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,023 $4,023
$2,768 $2,768
45.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,684 $2,684
$2,699 $2,699
-0.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,981 $4,981
$8,054 $8,054
-38.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
3.6
83.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Bloomfield Hills, MI: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,600 in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bloomfield Hills, MI pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $55.0 in Bloomfield Hills, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $387 per month, with Bloomfield Hills, 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 Bloomfield Hills, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Chicago, IL and in Bloomfield Hills, MI?
Chicago, IL and Bloomfield Hills, MI differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $2,445 including rent). Bloomfield Hills, MI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Bloomfield Hills, MI. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Chicago, IL and in Bloomfield Hills, MI?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,600 in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chicago, IL or Bloomfield Hills, MI?
All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,445 in Bloomfield Hills, MI – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Bloomfield Hills, MI is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Chicago, IL and Bloomfield Hills, MI?
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.
Where should expats move: Chicago, IL or Bloomfield Hills, MI?
Expats usually find Bloomfield Hills, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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