Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Cadillac, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Cadillac, MI: $2,025 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
97

Cost of Living Index in Cadillac, MI
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Cadillac, MI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Cadillac, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,025

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Cadillac, MI

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Cadillac, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,025 in Cadillac, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Cadillac, MI $2,025

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,901 in Cadillac, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Cadillac, MI $2,901

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,776 in Cadillac, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Cadillac, MI $3,776

Chicago, IL costs about 52% more than Cadillac, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Cadillac, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Cadillac, MI by 50%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$14.81 $14.81

37.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$40.57 $40.57

118.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.02 $11.02

16.61%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.95 $4.95

16.77%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.00 $3.00

-8.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.97 $1.97

14.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.64 $5.64

21.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.62 $6.62

39.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.69 $0.69

82.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.16 $2.16

64.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.16 $2.16

149.07%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.65 $3.65

24.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$19.95 $19.95

-31.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$8.92 $8.92

57.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$14.89 $14.89

21.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$2.79 $2.79

84.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.20 $1.20

65.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.66 $3.66

6.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.44 $4.44

8.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.17 $2.17

29.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.68 $2.68

-0.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.25 $2.25

-8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.99 $1.99

52.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$10.19 $10.19

36.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.90 $14.90

1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.95 $1.95

34.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.02 $2.02

70.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$65.1 $65.1

15.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.06 $3.06

3.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.53 $1.53

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$26.34 $26.34

-5.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.14 $1.14

12.28%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$30.0K $30.0K

19.33%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

2.40%

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

$192 $192

$196 $196

-2.08%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$59.0 $59.0

18.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$72.5 $72.5

-14.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$45.20 $45.20

5.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$9.88 $9.88

80.47%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$2,033 $2,033

-10.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$19.7K $19.7K

106.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$55.2 $55.2

19.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$44.03 $44.03

16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$60.9 $60.9

69.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$106 $106

34.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$907 $907

179.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$809 $809

100.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$1,669 $1,669

189.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,284 $1,284

112.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,755 $2,755

51.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,191 $2,191

24.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.6

2.73%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Cadillac, MI: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Cadillac, MI

$809 40% 50.1% $812

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Cadillac, MI

$347 17.1% 21% $92

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Cadillac, MI

$272 13.5% 20.8% $72

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Cadillac, MI

$328 16.2% 1.2% $3.7

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Cadillac, MI

$120 5.9% 26.7% $44

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Cadillac, MI

$84 4.1% 13.2% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Cadillac, MI

$65 3.2% 22.1% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $907 in Cadillac, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $41 in Cadillac, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $347 – making Cadillac, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Cadillac, MI

🕒 Local time

12:39 12:39 PM

13:39 1:39 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

10,308

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Cadillac, MI 320 km

From you

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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cadillac, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,025 in Cadillac, MI – Cadillac, MI comes out roughly 34% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,038 in Cadillac, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cadillac, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $907 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $41 in Cadillac, MI. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,025 in Cadillac, MI. That makes Cadillac, MI about 34% cheaper.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cadillac, MI, where all-in costs run around $2,025, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Cadillac, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,025 in Cadillac, MI to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

For expats, Cadillac, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 34% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.