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

🙂 Solo nomad: Detroit, MI is 15.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Detroit, MI is 16.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.26 $17.26

$20.82 $20.82

-17.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.9 $66.9

$100 $100

-33.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 $10.07

$11.97 $11.97

-15.87%

Cappuccino

$4.82 $4.82

$5.56 $5.56

-13.31%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$3.11 $3.11

-20.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.42 $2.42

-21.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$6.86 $6.86

-11.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.87 $6.87

$8.45 $8.45

-18.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.04 $1.04

-18.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.15 $3.15

$4.15 $4.15

-24.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.85 $5.85

$5.52 $5.52

5.98%

Eggs

$3.41 $3.41

$4.65 $4.65

-26.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 $12.32

$14.33 $14.33

-14.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.08 $12.08

$14.88 $14.88

-18.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.73 $20.73

$19.34 $19.34

7.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$5.17 $5.17

-12.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.71 $1.71

-28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$4.41 $4.41

31.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.51 $4.51

37.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.53 $2.53

-20.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.74 $2.74

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.43 $2.43

8.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.7 $2.7

-23.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.19 $10.19

$15.19 $15.19

-32.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.75 $14.75

$16.42 $16.42

-10.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.35 $2.35

-14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.7 $3.7

-30.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.53 $2.53

-18.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 $65.3

$74.1 $74.1

-11.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.34 $3.34

-25.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.42 $1.42

-2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$47.26 $47.26

$25.42 $25.42

85.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$32.4K $32.4K

9.41%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.67%

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

$250 $250

$188 $188

32.82%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$63.7 $63.7

-13.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.9 $53.9

$65.2 $65.2

-17.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.81 $42.81

$76.7 $76.7

-44.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.87 $24.87

$13.03 $13.03

90.87%

Cinema Ticket

$10.9 $10.9

$14.93 $14.93

-26.99%

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

$1,281 $1,281

$2,063 $2,063

-37.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K $17.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-56.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 $55.3

$64.3 $64.3

-14.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.95 $30.95

$52.4 $52.4

-40.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$95.2 $95.2

3.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$145 $145

-25.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 $1,441

$2,378 $2,378

-39.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,139 $1,139

$1,584 $1,584

-28.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,561 $2,561

$4,763 $4,763

-46.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,964 $1,964

$2,815 $2,815

-30.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,371 $1,371

$3,588 $3,588

-61.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,257 $1,257

$2,490 $2,490

-49.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,172 $3,172

$5,275 $5,275

-39.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.6

-2.73%

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

Last update for Detroit, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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