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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.2% more expensive than Pontiac, MI without rent, and 15.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.7% more expensive than Pontiac, MI without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.89 $17.89
16.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$71.3 $71.3
40.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.87 $10.87
10.12%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.82 $4.82
15.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.51 $2.51
23.90%
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
$6.18 $6.18
11.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.84 $6.84
23.54%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.9 $0.9
15.56%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.49 $3.49
18.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.8 $4.8
15.00%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.26 $3.26
42.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.38 $15.38
-6.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.17 $12.17
22.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$14.86 $14.86
30.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.75 $6.75
-23.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.36 $1.36
25.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$6.13 $6.13
-28.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.8 $5.8
-22.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.17 $2.17
16.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.95 $3.95
-30.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.43 $2.43
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.81 $2.81
-3.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.15 $9.15
66.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.16 $14.16
15.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.83 $1.83
28.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.67 $3.67
0.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, 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
$49.66 $49.66
49.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.74 $4.74
-29.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.38 $1.38
2.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$27.69 $27.69
-8.20%
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
$24.7K $24.7K
31.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$22.2K $22.2K
18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$119 $119
57.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$45.13 $45.13
41.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$60.1 $60.1
8.43%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.65 $42.65
79.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$11.88 $11.88
9.68%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$10.9 $10.9
36.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$941 $941
119.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$21.3K $21.3K
83.62%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$63.9 $63.9
0.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.72 $40.72
28.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$99.5 $99.5
-4.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$137 $137
5.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,622 $1,622
46.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,375 $1,375
15.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,630 $2,630
81.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,260 $2,260
24.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,752 $2,752
30.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,402 $2,402
3.68%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Pontiac, MI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$1,984 $1,984
165.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Pontiac, MI: October 27, 2025

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