Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Farmington Hills, MI and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Farmington Hills, MI: $2,520 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

Cost of Living Index in Farmington Hills, MI
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Farmington Hills, MI Living Index
147

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

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Farmington Hills, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,520

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Farmington Hills, MI and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Farmington Hills, MI and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,520 per month in Farmington Hills, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Farmington Hills, MI $2,520
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,779 per month in Farmington Hills, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Farmington Hills, MI $3,779
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,038 per month in Farmington Hills, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Farmington Hills, MI $5,038
Chicago, IL $5,999

Farmington Hills, MI is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Farmington Hills, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Farmington Hills, MI by 85%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.29 $16.29

$20.71 $20.71

-21.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 $60.6

$89.2 $89.2

-32.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 $10.43

$13.19 $13.19

-20.92%

Cappuccino

$4.96 $4.96

$5.66 $5.66

-12.37%

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

$2.07 $2.07

$2.64 $2.64

-21.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.28 $2.28

-13.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 $4.97

$6.87 $6.87

-27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.83 $5.83

$8.84 $8.84

-34.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.25 $1.25

-32.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 $2.08

$3.72 $3.72

-44.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$5.39 $5.39

-16.51%

Eggs

$2.74 $2.74

$4.74 $4.74

-42.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.49 $10.49

$13.84 $13.84

-24.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 $11.48

$14.40 $14.40

-20.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.59 $18.59

$18.38 $18.38

1.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$5.22 $5.22

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.98 $1.98

-45.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.64 $6.64

$4.06 $4.06

63.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.97 $4.97

-27.77%

Potato (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$2.67 $2.67

120.97%

Onion (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.66 $2.66

73.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.24 $2.24

-3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$3.13 $3.13

-51.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.19 $9.19

$13.82 $13.82

-33.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.14 $13.14

$14.88 $14.88

-11.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.54 $2.54

-6.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.51 $3.51

-30.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.43 $2.43

24.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 $65.2

$73.5 $73.5

-11.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 $5.32

$3.18 $3.18

67.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.39 $1.39

13.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.71 $48.71

$25.03 $25.03

94.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.20 $1.20

-15.83%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$35.0K $35.0K

-12.96%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$26.7K $26.7K

-7.57%

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

$178 $178

$194 $194

-8.70%

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

$57.1 $57.1

$69.5 $69.5

-17.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.2 $52.2

$61.6 $61.6

-15.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$47.90 $47.90

58.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.73 $34.73

$27.34 $27.34

27.03%

Cinema Ticket

$11.79 $11.79

$17.81 $17.81

-33.80%

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

$1,666 $1,666

$1,794 $1,794

-7.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.6K $16.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

-48.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$67.0 $67.0

-18.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.52 $49.52

$52.1 $52.1

-5.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.33 $45.33

$102 $102

-55.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$144 $144

-16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$2,526 $2,526

-39.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,280 $1,280

$1,578 $1,578

-18.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,668 $2,668

$4,738 $4,738

-43.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,301 $2,301

$2,693 $2,693

-14.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,922 $2,922

$4,190 $4,190

-30.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,661 $1,661

$2,768 $2,768

-39.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,290 $5,290

$4,931 $4,931

7.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

6.81

-6.75%

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

Last update for Farmington Hills, MI: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Farmington Hills, MI

$1.3K 50.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 23.3% $298

Groceries & Markets

Farmington Hills, MI

$368 14.6%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 21.5% $79

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Farmington Hills, MI

$287 11.4%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 13.5% $39

Eating Out

Farmington Hills, MI

$274 10.9%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 26% $71

Clothing & Footwear

Farmington Hills, MI

$121 4.8%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 35.3% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Farmington Hills, MI

$100 4%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 16.2% $16

Getting Around

Farmington Hills, MI

$91 3.6%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 3.1% $2.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,538 in Farmington Hills, MI versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. 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 7% higher in Farmington Hills, MI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Farmington Hills, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 vs $447 – making Farmington Hills, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Farmington Hills, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

03:14 3:14 AM

02:14 2:14 AM

1 h behind Farmington Hills, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

80,937

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.897 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Farmington Hills, MI Chicago, IL 360 km

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Farmington Hills, MI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,520 in Farmington Hills, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Farmington Hills, MI comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,780 per month in Farmington Hills, MI and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Farmington Hills, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,538 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Farmington Hills, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. 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 $2,520 in Farmington Hills, MI and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Farmington Hills, MI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Farmington Hills, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 17% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.