Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Madison Heights, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Madison Heights, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,667 in Madison Heights, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,680 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,798 in Madison Heights, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,249 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,930 in Madison Heights, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 17% more than Madison Heights, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Madison Heights, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Madison Heights, MI by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$17.74 $17.74

14.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$54.6 $54.6

79.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$9.02 $9.02

33.81%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.40 $5.40

6.11%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.50 $2.50

18.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.82 $1.82

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$6.08 $6.08

14.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.18 $7.18

14.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.85 $0.85

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.14 $3.14

29.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.87 $5.87

-6.30%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$3.41 $3.41

36.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$9.86 $9.86

46.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$12.13 $12.13

25.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$20.08 $20.08

-3.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.41 $4.41

16.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.54 $1.54

14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.74 $5.74

-24.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$6.03 $6.03

-27.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$4.14 $4.14

-41.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$4.51 $4.51

-38.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.61 $2.61

-3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.49 $2.49

6.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$10.20 $10.20

46.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$15.26 $15.26

-1.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.94 $1.94

26.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.56 $2.56

38.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.45 $2.45

35.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.44 $1.44

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$25.31 $25.31

-0.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.87 $0.87

25.29%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.7K $34.7K

-8.08%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.6K $24.6K

8.93%

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

$187 $187

$255 $255

-26.55%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$48.32 $48.32

31.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$54.7 $54.7

19.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$43.77 $43.77

72.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$10.86 $10.86

36.28%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,016 $1,016

99.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$16.9K $16.9K

130.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$54.0 $54.0

18.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$30.87 $30.87

67.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$105 $105

-8.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$141 $141

2.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,613 $1,613

44.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,333 $1,333

20.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,604 $2,604

80.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,206 $2,206

23.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$2,886 $2,886

32.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$2,571 $2,571

-1.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Madison Heights, MI: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,613 in Madison Heights, MI. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL versus $55.0 in Madison Heights, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $419 – making Madison Heights, 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 Madison Heights, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL, $2,667 in Madison Heights, MI – roughly 17% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,666 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,001 in Madison Heights, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Chicago, IL and $55.0 in Madison Heights, MI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,111 in Chicago, IL and $2,667 in Madison Heights, MI. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,667 in Madison Heights, MI to $3,111 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Madison Heights, 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.