Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Port Huron, MI

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Huron, MI: $2,635 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
127

Cost of Living Index in Port Huron, MI
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Port Huron, MI Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Port Huron, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,635

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,635 in Port Huron, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Port Huron, MI $2,635

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,858 in Port Huron, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Port Huron, MI $3,858

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,082 in Port Huron, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Port Huron, MI $5,082

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Port Huron, MI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Port Huron, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Port Huron, MI by 94%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$19.91 $19.91

3.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$76.1 $76.1

18.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$14.46 $14.46

-10.51%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.17 $5.17

8.32%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.53 $2.53

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.47 $2.47

-8.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.89 $5.89

18.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.38 $7.38

19.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.08 $1.08

17.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.55 $3.55

7.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.25 $4.25

24.71%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$5.24 $5.24

-9.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.57 $12.57

11.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.74 $11.74

24.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.22 $17.22

9.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.92 $4.92

5.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.65 $1.65

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.37 $4.37

-10.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.70 $4.70

5.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.78 $2.78

-0.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.90 $2.90

-4.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.11 $2.11

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.21 $2.21

34.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$9.87 $9.87

42.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.73 $14.73

3.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.18 $2.18

18.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.38 $3.38

3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.11 $2.11

17.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$13.29 $13.29

462.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.73 $2.73

22.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.90 $1.90

-24.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$27.28 $27.28

-10.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.14 $1.14

10.53%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$23.9K $23.9K

46.37%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$30.0K $30.0K

-13.13%

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

$193 $193

$196 $196

-1.70%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$57.4 $57.4

18.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$90.7 $90.7

-32.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$61.1 $61.1

-11.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.48 $12.48

42.15%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,294 $1,294

27.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$20.5K $20.5K

51.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$45.85 $45.85

44.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$41.87 $41.87

22.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$78.0 $78.0

28.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$114 $114

23.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,570 $1,570

55.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,312 $1,312

27.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,553 $2,553

84.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,185 $2,185

27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,130 $3,130

31.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,717 $2,717

-2.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,523 $3,523

38.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.57

3.65%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Port Huron, MI: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Port Huron, MI

$1.3K 49.8% 21.8% $366

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Port Huron, MI

$404 15.3% 10.1% $45

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Port Huron, MI

$329 12.5% 4.2% $15

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Port Huron, MI

$344 13.1% 6.8% $22

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Port Huron, MI

$126 4.8% 21.8% $35

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Port Huron, MI

$34 1.3% 64.3% $61

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Port Huron, MI

$86 3.3% 4% $3.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,570 in Port Huron, 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 38% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in Port Huron, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $404 – making Port Huron, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Port Huron, MI

🕒 Local time

16:59 4:59 PM

17:59 5:59 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

28,983

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Port Huron, MI 440 km

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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 Port Huron, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,635 in Port Huron, MI – roughly 19% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,952 in Port Huron, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 11% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in Port Huron, 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 $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,635 in Port Huron, 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 $2,635 in Port Huron, MI to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Port Huron, 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.