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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.8% more expensive than Detroit, MI without rent, and 21.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.4% more expensive than Detroit, MI without rent, and 29% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.26 $17.26

20.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$66.9 $66.9

50.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.07 $10.07

18.87%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.82 $4.82

15.35%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.47 $2.47

25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.89 $1.89

28.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.07 $6.07

13.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.87 $6.87

23.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.85 $0.85

22.35%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.15 $3.15

31.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.85 $5.85

-5.64%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.41 $3.41

36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.32 $12.32

16.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.08 $12.08

23.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.73 $20.73

-6.71%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.54 $4.54

13.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.22 $1.22

40.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.82 $5.82

-24.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.19 $6.19

-27.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.01 $2.01

25.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.5 $2.5

9.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.64 $2.64

-7.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.06 $2.06

31.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.19 $10.19

49.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.75 $14.75

11.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.58 $2.58

43.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.06 $2.06

22.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$65.3 $65.3

13.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.48 $2.48

34.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.38 $1.38

2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$47.26 $47.26

-46.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.5K $35.5K

-8.60%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.02%

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

$188 $188

$250 $250

-24.71%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.8 $54.8

16.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$53.9 $53.9

21.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.81 $42.81

79.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$24.87 $24.87

-47.61%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.9 $10.9

36.97%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,281 $1,281

61.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$17.1K $17.1K

129.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$55.3 $55.3

16.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$30.95 $30.95

69.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.3 $98.3

-3.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$107 $107

34.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,441 $1,441

64.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,139 $1,139

39.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,561 $2,561

85.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,964 $1,964

43.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$1,371 $1,371

161.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,257 $1,257

98.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,172 $3,172

66.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.42

2.80%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Detroit, MI: October 29, 2025

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