Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Farmington Hills, MI: $2,520 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
122

Cost of Living Index in Farmington Hills, MI
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Farmington Hills, MI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Farmington Hills, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,520

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Farmington Hills, 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 Farmington Hills, MI actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,520 in Farmington Hills, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Farmington Hills, MI $2,520

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,779 in Farmington Hills, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Farmington Hills, MI $3,779

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,038 in Farmington Hills, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Farmington Hills, MI $5,038

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Farmington Hills, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Farmington Hills, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Farmington Hills, MI by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$16.29 $16.29

27.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$60.6 $60.6

47.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$10.43 $10.43

26.46%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.96 $4.96

14.11%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.07 $2.07

27.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.97 $1.97

15.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.97 $4.97

38.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$5.83 $5.83

51.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.84 $0.84

48.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.08 $2.08

78.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.50 $4.50

19.78%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.74 $2.74

72.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.49 $10.49

31.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$11.48 $11.48

25.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.59 $18.59

-1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.48 $3.48

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.07 $1.07

85.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.64 $6.64

-38.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.59 $3.59

38.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.90 $5.90

-54.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$4.61 $4.61

-42.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.17 $2.17

3.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.53 $1.53

104.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.19 $9.19

50.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.14 $13.14

13.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.38 $2.38

6.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.44 $2.44

43.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.03 $3.03

-19.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$65.2 $65.2

12.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$5.32 $5.32

-40.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.58 $1.58

-12.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$48.71 $48.71

-48.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.01 $1.01

18.81%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.5K $30.5K

14.88%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$24.7K $24.7K

8.20%

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

$194 $194

$178 $178

9.53%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$57.1 $57.1

21.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$52.2 $52.2

18.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$76.1 $76.1

-37.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

$34.73 $34.73

-21.28%

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$11.79 $11.79

51.06%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,666 $1,666

7.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$16.6K $16.6K

92.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$54.7 $54.7

22.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$49.52 $49.52

5.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$45.33 $45.33

123.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$120 $120

19.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,538 $1,538

64.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,280 $1,280

23.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,668 $2,668

77.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,301 $2,301

17.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,922 $2,922

43.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,661 $1,661

66.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,290 $5,290

-6.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.35

7.24%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Farmington Hills, MI: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Farmington Hills, MI

$1.3K 50.8% 18.9% $298

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Farmington Hills, MI

$368 14.6% 17.7% $79

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Farmington Hills, MI

$274 10.9% 20.6% $71

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Farmington Hills, MI

$287 11.4% 11.9% $39

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Farmington Hills, MI

$121 4.8% 26.1% $43

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Farmington Hills, MI

$91 3.6% 3.1% $2.8

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Farmington Hills, MI

$100 4% 19.3% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,538 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 7% 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 $89 in Chicago, IL versus $61 in Farmington Hills, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $368 – making Farmington Hills, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Farmington Hills, MI

🕒 Local time

07:05 7:05 AM

08:05 8:05 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

80,937

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.894 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Farmington Hills, MI 360 km

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,520 in Farmington Hills, MI – Farmington Hills, MI comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,780 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,538 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $61 in Farmington Hills, MI. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,520 in Farmington Hills, MI. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Farmington Hills, MI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Farmington Hills, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 17% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.