Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Monroe, MI: $2,218 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 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
107

Cost of Living Index in Monroe, MI
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Monroe, MI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monroe, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,218

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,218 in Monroe, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Monroe, MI $2,218

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,096 in Monroe, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Monroe, MI $3,096

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,975 in Monroe, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Monroe, MI $3,975

Chicago, IL costs about 37% more than Monroe, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Monroe, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Monroe, MI by 63%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$12.04 $12.04

72.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$32.27 $32.27

176.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$8.36 $8.36

57.78%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$3.48 $3.48

62.64%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.47 $1.47

79.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.03 $1.03

121.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.97 $3.97

73.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$4.97 $4.97

77.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.78 $0.78

60.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.80 $2.80

32.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.59 $4.59

17.43%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.19 $2.19

116.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.17 $11.17

23.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.95 $16.95

-15.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$35.13 $35.13

-47.68%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$3.36 $3.36

55.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.58 $1.58

25.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.55 $6.55

-38.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.61 $3.61

37.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$5.81 $5.81

-54.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$5.75 $5.75

-53.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.13 $2.13

5.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.22 $2.22

40.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$8.29 $8.29

66.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$18.62 $18.62

-20.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.30 $2.30

10.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$4.98 $4.98

-29.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$56.8 $56.8

29.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.16 $3.16

0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$3.04 $3.04

-54.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$10.16 $10.16

146.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.86 $0.86

39.53%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.0K $30.0K

16.80%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.49%

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

$194 $194

$229 $229

-15.22%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$65.1 $65.1

6.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$51.9 $51.9

18.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$41.45 $41.45

15.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$8.53 $8.53

108.79%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$645 $645

177.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$23.5K $23.5K

35.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$55.2 $55.2

21.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$50.6 $50.6

3.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$81.3 $81.3

24.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$118 $118

21.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,008 $1,008

150.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$910 $910

73.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$1,383 $1,383

242.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,287 $1,287

109.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$1,855 $1,855

125.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$1,818 $1,818

52.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,905 $5,905

-16.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.56

3.81%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Monroe, MI: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Monroe, MI

$910 41% 42.3% $668

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Monroe, MI

$480 21.6% 7.3% $32

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Monroe, MI

$203 9.2% 41.2% $142

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Monroe, MI

$346 15.6% 6.4% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Monroe, MI

$137 6.2% 16.2% $27

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Monroe, MI

$83 3.8% 11% $10

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Monroe, MI

$59 2.6% 29.9% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,008 in Monroe, 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 20% higher in Monroe, 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 $32 in Monroe, MI. Groceries tell a different story – $447 in Chicago, IL vs $480 in Monroe, MI – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Monroe, MI

🕒 Local time

06:13 6:13 AM

07:13 7:13 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

47,702

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Monroe, MI 350 km

From you

Chicago, IL
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Monroe, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,218 in Monroe, MI – Monroe, MI comes out roughly 27% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,327 in Monroe, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Monroe, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,008 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $32 in Monroe, 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 $2,218 in Monroe, MI. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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