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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,752 in Farmington Hills, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,802 in Farmington Hills, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,853 in Farmington Hills, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Farmington Hills, MI, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Farmington Hills, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Farmington Hills, MI by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$17.78 $17.78

17.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$60.8 $60.8

61.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$10.54 $10.54

12.52%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.64 $4.64

20.69%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.13 $2.13

44.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.63 $1.63

51.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.17 $6.17

15.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.46 $6.46

25.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.90 $0.90

16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.19 $2.19

87.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.19 $4.19

33.89%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.21 $3.21

40.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$10.64 $10.64

34.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.07 $12.07

23.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$14.75 $14.75

30.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.07 $7.07

-27.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.37 $1.37

29.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.73 $5.73

-23.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.31 $5.31

-14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.18 $2.18

16.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.93 $3.93

-30.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.34 $2.34

3.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.64 $1.64

59.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.04 $9.04

65.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.18 $13.18

12.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.83 $1.83

34.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.24 $2.24

66.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.09 $3.09

-19.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$64.8 $64.8

16.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.69 $4.69

-32.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.22 $1.22

16.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$27.93 $27.93

-10.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.91 $0.91

16.48%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.3K $24.3K

31.29%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

5.74%

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

$185 $185

$119 $119

56.00%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$46.20 $46.20

33.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$62.0 $62.0

8.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.32 $43.32

73.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$35.03 $35.03

-62.66%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$10.97 $10.97

34.09%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$947 $947

113.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$16.6K $16.6K

136.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$39.80 $39.80

62.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$39.27 $39.27

33.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$51.7 $51.7

89.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$99.8 $99.8

47.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,452 $1,452

59.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,615 $1,615

-1.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,753 $2,753

67.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,201 $2,201

26.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,962 $2,962

32.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$1,706 $1,706

53.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$5,736 $5,736

-9.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Farmington Hills, MI: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,452 in Farmington Hills, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Farmington Hills, MI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $61.0 in Farmington Hills, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $374 – making Farmington Hills, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Farmington Hills, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,752 in Farmington Hills, MI – roughly 12% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,127 in Farmington Hills, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Farmington Hills, MI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $61.0 in Farmington Hills, MI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Farmington Hills, MI, where all-in costs run around $2,752, than in Chicago, IL at $3,077. In Farmington Hills, 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 $2,752 in Farmington Hills, MI to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Farmington Hills, MI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.