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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL versus $2,557 in Chesterfield, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,725 in Chicago, IL versus $3,700 in Chesterfield, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,266 in Chicago, IL versus $4,844 in Chesterfield, MI.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than in Chesterfield, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Chesterfield, MI 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$19.78 $19.78

2.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$76.4 $76.4

16.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$10.03 $10.03

31.21%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$4.45 $4.45

29.66%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$2.92 $2.92

-9.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.66 $1.66

40.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.91 $5.91

19.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$6.64 $6.64

38.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$0.85 $0.85

52.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.36 $3.36

20.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$3.39 $3.39

67.85%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.45 $4.45

8.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.40 $15.40

-2.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$13.22 $13.22

12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$14.81 $14.81

30.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.85 $4.85

17.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.58 $1.58

22.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$5.73 $5.73

-28.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$6.25 $6.25

-18.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.19 $2.19

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.67 $3.67

-24.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.81 $2.81

-18.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.53 $2.53

20.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$10.69 $10.69

49.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$15.26 $15.26

-1.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.53 $2.53

37.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$4.62 $4.62

-29.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.02 $2.02

-32.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$32.08 $32.08

-29.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.00 $1.00

22.00%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

0.15%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.9K $24.9K

4.44%

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

$188 $188

$130 $130

45.42%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$49.08 $49.08

40.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$73.5 $73.5

-13.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$42.23 $42.23

50.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$13.39 $13.39

33.68%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$900 $900

69.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$21.4K $21.4K

49.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$65.5 $65.5

-5.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$78.2 $78.2

-27.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$117 $117

33.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$1,618 $1,618

44.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$1,276 $1,276

33.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,518 $2,518

81.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$2,101 $2,101

33.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,098 $3,098

33.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,643 $2,643

3.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.3

1.27%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Chesterfield, MI: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,342 in Chicago, IL and $1,618 in Chesterfield, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $89.0 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Chesterfield, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $419 per month, with Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Chesterfield, MI differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($3,184 vs $2,557 including rent). Chesterfield, MI is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,776 in Chicago, IL and $3,835 in Chesterfield, MI to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,342 in Chicago, IL versus $1,618 in Chesterfield, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,526 in Chicago, IL versus $900 in Chesterfield, MI. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chesterfield, MI – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chesterfield, 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.

Expats usually find Chesterfield, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.