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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.8% more expensive than Waterford, MI without rent, and 16.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.8% more expensive than Waterford, MI without rent, and 22.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.74 $17.74

17.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$71.2 $71.2

40.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.6 $9.6

24.69%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.41 $4.41

26.08%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.52 $2.52

23.41%

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

$5.91 $5.91

16.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$4.62 $4.62

82.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.9 $0.9

15.56%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.56 $3.56

16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.91 $4.91

12.42%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$1.98 $1.98

134.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.87 $10.87

31.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.3 $12.3

20.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.94 $14.94

29.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$10.18 $10.18

-49.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.08 $1.08

58.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.14 $6.14

-28.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.5 $4.5

0.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.09 $2.09

21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.87 $3.87

-29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.21 $2.21

9.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.02 $9.02

68.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.11 $15.11

8.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.84 $1.84

27.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.66 $3.66

1.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.02 $2.02

25.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$50.1 $50.1

47.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.82 $4.82

-30.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.36 $1.36

4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$27.77 $27.77

-8.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.87 $0.87

24.14%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.3K $24.3K

33.18%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.68%

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

$188 $188

$120 $120

56.65%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.45 $44.45

43.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.2 $61.2

6.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.49 $42.49

80.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$11.18 $11.18

33.54%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$947 $947

117.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$20.6K $20.6K

90.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$63.4 $63.4

1.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.45 $39.45

32.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$96.8 $96.8

-1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$139 $139

4.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,586 $1,586

49.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,367 $1,367

15.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,586 $2,586

84.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,215 $2,215

27.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,693 $2,693

33.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,770 $2,770

-10.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

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 Waterford, MI: October 28, 2025

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