Cost of Living Comparison Between Livonia, MI and McHenry, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Livonia, MI and McHenry, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,555 in Livonia, MI versus $2,653 in McHenry, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,769 in Livonia, MI versus $3,857 in McHenry, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,983 in Livonia, MI versus $5,061 in McHenry, IL.

Living in Livonia, MI costs roughly 4% less than in McHenry, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Livonia, MI 91% above, McHenry, IL 98% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.07 $18.07

$14.87 $14.87

21.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.3 $67.3

$74.1 $74.1

-9.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.91 $9.91

$10.85 $10.85

-8.66%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$5.34 $5.34

-9.36%

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

$2.58 $2.58

$2.66 $2.66

-3.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.37 $2.37

-33.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$6.02 $6.02

-2.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$7.17 $7.17

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.92 $0.92

-2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.79 $3.79

-6.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.29 $5.29

-4.73%

Eggs

$3.17 $3.17

$4.01 $4.01

-20.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.46 $12.46

$14.14 $14.14

-11.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$13.05 $13.05

-6.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.74 $17.74

$16.58 $16.58

7.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$4.41 $4.41

25.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.54 $1.54

-14.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$5.73 $5.73

13.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.81 $4.81

19.75%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.71 $2.71

-18.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.92 $2.92

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.93 $1.93

29.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.02 $2.02

22.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$10.06 $10.06

1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.34 $15.34

-1.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.39 $2.39

-23.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.64 $4.64

-23.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.99 $1.99

-2.01%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 $29.70

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 $4.64

$4.56 $4.56

1.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.12 $2.12

-35.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.11 $28.11

$42.49 $42.49

-33.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.83 $0.83

4.82%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

0.49%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$25.0K $25.0K

-1.51%

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

$162 $162

$214 $214

-24.11%

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

$49.42 $49.42

$51.3 $51.3

-3.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 $53.8

$76.2 $76.2

-29.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.21 $42.21

$42.14 $42.14

0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 $11.18

$15.09 $15.09

-25.91%

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

$1,118 $1,118

$1,659 $1,659

-32.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.0K $21.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

-14.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$50.2 $50.2

27.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.65 $30.65

$48.91 $48.91

-37.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$101 $101

-4.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$132 $132

-18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,136 $1,136

$1,574 $1,574

-27.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,351 $1,351

$1,378 $1,378

-1.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,629 $2,629

$2,613 $2,613

0.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,202 $2,202

$2,203 $2,203

-0.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,269 $2,269

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,503 $5,503

$5,513 $5,513

-0.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.55

-0.61%

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

Last update for Livonia, MI: June 2, 2026

Last update for McHenry, IL: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,136 in Livonia, MI and $1,574 in McHenry, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

McHenry, IL pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $67.0 in Livonia, MI vs $74.0 in McHenry, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $420 vs $418, with McHenry, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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

Livonia, MI vs McHenry, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Livonia, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, McHenry, IL earns 0% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,136 in Livonia, MI versus $1,574 in McHenry, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in McHenry, IL pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,555 per month in Livonia, MI versus $2,653 in McHenry, IL – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,555 in Livonia, MI versus $2,653 in McHenry, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Livonia, MI but tight or insufficient in McHenry, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Livonia, MI the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Livonia, MI and McHenry, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Livonia, MI gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in McHenry, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.