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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 55.3% more expensive than Monroe, MI without rent, and 45.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 43.2% more expensive than Monroe, MI without rent, and 42.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$11.86 $11.86
75.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$31.56 $31.56
217.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.09 $8.09
47.96%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$3.47 $3.47
60.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.46 $1.46
113.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.01 $1.01
139.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$4.08 $4.08
68.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$4.97 $4.97
70.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.81 $0.81
28.40%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.43 $2.43
70.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$1.68 $1.68
228.57%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.28 $2.28
103.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.02 $11.02
30.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.75 $6.75
120.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.41 $20.41
-5.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.97 $3.97
30.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.25 $1.25
36.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$1.9 $1.9
132.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.42 $4.42
2.04%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.26 $1.26
100.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.77 $2.77
-1.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.94 $1.94
25.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.17 $1.17
130.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.03 $8.03
89.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$20.19 $20.19
-18.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.74 $3.74
-1.07%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.86 $4.86
-31.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.29 $1.29
10.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$49.03 $49.03
-48.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.86 $0.86
25.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.2K $29.2K
11.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$30.5K $30.5K
-14.04%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$243 $243
-22.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.8 $56.8
12.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71.6 $71.6
-8.95%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.88 $42.88
78.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$8.7 $8.7
71.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$974 $974
111.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.5K $23.5K
66.82%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.9 $50.9
26.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$47.68 $47.68
9.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$94.1 $94.1
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$102 $102
42.38%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,602 $1,602
48.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$962 $962
64.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,623 $2,623
81.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,210 $2,210
27.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$1,800 $1,800
99.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,844 $1,844
35.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Monroe, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,965 $5,965
-11.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.61
-0.15%

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 Monroe, MI: October 29, 2025

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