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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 48.1% more expensive than Houghton, MI without rent, and 20.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.8% more expensive than Houghton, MI without rent, and 35.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.78 $12.78
62.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$39.42 $39.42
154.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.99 $9.99
19.82%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.12 $4.12
34.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.83 $2.83
9.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.62 $1.62
49.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.17 $6.17
11.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.14 $7.14
18.35%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.07 $1.07
-2.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.54 $3.54
17.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.32 $4.32
27.78%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.05 $4.05
14.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.44 $12.44
15.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.39 $11.39
30.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.57 $15.57
24.21%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.02 $5.02
2.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.65 $1.65
3.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.36 $4.36
1.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.66 $4.66
-3.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.88 $2.88
-12.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.12 $2.12
14.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.12 $2.12
27.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.34 $9.34
62.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$17.99 $17.99
-8.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.86 $1.86
26.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.44 $3.44
7.56%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.01 $2.01
25.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.41 $3.41
-2.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.58 $1.58
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.27 $29.27
-13.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
7.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.93%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$191 $191
-1.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52 $52
22.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$69 $69
-5.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.31 $42.31
81.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.28 $13.28
12.42%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,288 $1,288
60.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.8K $23.8K
64.51%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52 $52
23.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.77 $39.77
31.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$86.5 $86.5
10.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$114 $114
27.32%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,607 $1,607
47.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,338 $1,338
18.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,665 $2,665
78.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,224 $2,224
26.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,453 $1,453
147.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,439 $1,439
73.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Houghton, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,567 $2,567
105.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Houghton, MI: October 29, 2025

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