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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Houghton, MI is 32.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Houghton, MI is 23.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.78 $12.78
$20.82 $20.82
-38.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.42 $39.42
$100 $100
-60.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 $9.99
$11.97 $11.97
-16.54%
Cappuccino
$4.12 $4.12
$5.56 $5.56
-25.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$3.11 $3.11
-9.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.42 $2.42
-33.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$6.86 $6.86
-10.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.14 $7.14
$8.45 $8.45
-15.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.04 $1.04
2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.54 $3.54
$4.15 $4.15
-14.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$5.52 $5.52
-21.74%
Eggs
$4.05 $4.05
$4.65 $4.65
-12.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.44 $12.44
$14.33 $14.33
-13.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.39 $11.39
$14.88 $14.88
-23.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.57 $15.57
$19.34 $19.34
-19.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.02 $5.02
$5.17 $5.17
-2.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.71 $1.71
-3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.36 $4.36
$4.41 $4.41
-1.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$4.51 $4.51
3.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.53 $2.53
13.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.74 $2.74
3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.43 $2.43
-12.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.7 $2.7
-21.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34 $9.34
$15.19 $15.19
-38.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.99 $17.99
$16.42 $16.42
9.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.35 $2.35
-20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.7 $3.7
-7.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.53 $2.53
-20.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 $3.41
$3.34 $3.34
2.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.42 $1.42
11.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.27 $29.27
$25.42 $25.42
15.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.92%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 $191
$188 $188
1.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52 $52
$63.7 $63.7
-18.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69 $69
$65.2 $65.2
5.77%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 $42.31
$76.7 $76.7
-44.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.28 $13.28
$14.93 $14.93
-11.05%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,288 $1,288
$2,063 $2,063
-37.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K $23.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.21%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 $52
$64.3 $64.3
-19.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.77 $39.77
$52.4 $52.4
-24.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 $86.5
$95.2 $95.2
-9.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.46%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 $1,607
$2,378 $2,378
-32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$1,584 $1,584
-15.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,665 $2,665
$4,763 $4,763
-44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,224 $2,224
$2,815 $2,815
-20.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,453 $1,453
$3,588 $3,588
-59.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,439 $1,439
$2,490 $2,490
-42.22%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Houghton, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,567 $2,567
$5,275 $5,275
-51.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Houghton, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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