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: $2,576 in Livonia, MI versus $2,628 in McHenry, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,772 in Livonia, MI versus $3,879 in McHenry, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,969 in Livonia, MI versus $5,131 in McHenry, IL.

Living in Livonia, MI costs roughly 2% less than in McHenry, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Livonia, MI 92% above, McHenry, IL 96% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.92 $17.92

$15.09 $15.09

18.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.6 $66.6

$75.7 $75.7

-12.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.05 $10.05

$10.85 $10.85

-7.37%

Cappuccino

$4.89 $4.89

$5.26 $5.26

-7.03%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$2.67 $2.67

-8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.30 $2.30

-32.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$5.94 $5.94

-1.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$7.21 $7.21

-3.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.85 $3.85

-10.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$5.36 $5.36

-6.72%

Eggs

$3.20 $3.20

$3.94 $3.94

-18.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.09 $12.09

$13.69 $13.69

-11.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.15 $12.15

$13.47 $13.47

-9.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$16.38 $16.38

6.78%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.51 $4.51

21.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.55 $1.55

-12.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$5.88 $5.88

9.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.80 $4.80

19.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.60 $2.60

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$2.99 $2.99

24.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.93 $1.93

25.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.03 $2.03

20.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.06 $10.06

-1.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$15.72 $15.72

-4.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$2.28 $2.28

-21.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.84 $4.84

-26.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.46 $30.46

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 $4.76

$4.53 $4.53

5.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.13 $2.13

-35.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.09 $28.09

$42.17 $42.17

-33.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.83 $0.83

1.20%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$25.1K $25.1K

-1.23%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

-5.31%

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

$161 $161

$219 $219

-26.38%

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

$50.9 $50.9

$49.94 $49.94

1.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 $53.7

$74.7 $74.7

-28.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.59 $42.59

$42.19 $42.19

0.95%

Cinema Ticket

$11.07 $11.07

$14.82 $14.82

-25.30%

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

$1,126 $1,126

$1,633 $1,633

-31.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$24.3K $24.3K

-14.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 $63.2

$49.51 $49.51

27.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.07 $31.07

$47.82 $47.82

-35.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 $98.6

$100.0 $100.0

-1.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$132 $132

-16.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 $1,142

$1,593 $1,593

-28.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,345 $1,345

$1,348 $1,348

-0.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,623 $2,623

$2,586 $2,586

1.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 $2,265

$2,247 $2,247

0.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,656 $2,656

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,361 $2,361

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,691 $5,691

$5,520 $5,520

3.11%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for McHenry, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Livonia, MI and $1,593 in McHenry, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Livonia, MI pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67 in Livonia, MI vs $76 in McHenry, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $415 vs $420 per month, with Livonia, MI cheaper across the board.

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 Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Livonia, MI pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Livonia, MI versus $1,593 in McHenry, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in McHenry, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,576 per month in Livonia, MI versus $2,628 in McHenry, IL – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,576 in Livonia, MI versus $2,628 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 2% less than in McHenry, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.