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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,550 in Saginaw, MI, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,628 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,759 in Saginaw, MI, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,179 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,967 in Saginaw, MI, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 21% more than Saginaw, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Saginaw, MI sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Saginaw, MI by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$18.28 $18.28

14.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$70.3 $70.3

39.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.17 $11.17

6.18%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.64 $4.64

20.69%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.61 $2.61

17.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.59 $1.59

55.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$5.92 $5.92

20.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$7.05 $7.05

14.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.84 $0.84

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.44 $3.44

19.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.70 $4.70

19.36%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$3.22 $3.22

40.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$15.36 $15.36

-7.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.01 $12.01

23.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.11 $15.11

27.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$10.20 $10.20

-49.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.37 $1.37

29.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.16 $6.16

-28.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.95 $5.95

-23.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.19 $2.19

15.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.93 $3.93

-30.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.43 $2.43

-0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.67 $2.67

-1.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$9.25 $9.25

61.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.26 $15.26

-3.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.82 $1.82

35.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.62 $3.62

3.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.02 $2.02

22.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$4.68 $4.68

-32.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.37 $1.37

3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$28.65 $28.65

-12.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.86 $0.86

23.26%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.7K $24.7K

29.32%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.5K $24.5K

6.15%

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

$185 $185

$119 $119

55.47%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$44.93 $44.93

37.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$61.4 $61.4

9.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.42 $42.42

77.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$10.90 $10.90

34.95%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$956 $956

111.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$21.1K $21.1K

86.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$64.7 $64.7

-0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$49.60 $49.60

5.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$81.3 $81.3

20.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$87.1 $87.1

69.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,623 $1,623

42.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,376 $1,376

15.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,675 $2,675

72.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,181 $2,181

27.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Saginaw, MI: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,623 in Saginaw, 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 $70.0 in Saginaw, MI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $443 – making Saginaw, 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 Saginaw, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL, $2,550 in Saginaw, MI – roughly 21% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,616 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,825 in Saginaw, MI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saginaw, 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 $70.0 in Saginaw, MI. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,077 in Chicago, IL and $2,550 in Saginaw, 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 $2,550 in Saginaw, MI to $3,077 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Saginaw, 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.