Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison Heights, MI and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Madison Heights, MI: $2,513 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Madison Heights, MI
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Madison Heights, MI Living Index
146

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

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Madison Heights, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,513

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Madison Heights, 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 Madison Heights, MI and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,513 per month in Madison Heights, MI vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Madison Heights, MI $2,513
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,638 per month in Madison Heights, MI vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Madison Heights, MI $3,638
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,764 per month in Madison Heights, MI vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Madison Heights, MI $4,764
Chicago, IL $6,019

Madison Heights, MI is about 18% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Madison Heights, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Madison Heights, MI by 86%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.05 $18.05

$20.39 $20.39

-11.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 $63.3

$88.6 $88.6

-28.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 $10.82

$12.85 $12.85

-15.80%

Cappuccino

$5.52 $5.52

$5.78 $5.78

-4.50%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$2.74 $2.74

-5.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.26 $2.26

-11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.88 $6.88

-12.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$9.24 $9.24

-11.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.26 $1.26

-32.54%

White Bread (500g)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.55 $3.55

-5.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$5.38 $5.38

-19.14%

Eggs

$3.82 $3.82

$4.55 $4.55

-16.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.31 $13.31

$13.65 $13.65

-2.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.51 $11.51

$14.07 $14.07

-18.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.45 $16.45

$18.06 $18.06

-8.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$5.16 $5.16

-0.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.98 $1.98

-22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.88 $3.88

4.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.83 $4.83

-19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.81 $2.81

-12.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.67 $2.67

11.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.07 $2.07

8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.03 $3.03

-28.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 $9.97

$13.90 $13.90

-28.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.05 $15.05

-1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.63 $2.63

-7.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.45 $3.45

-0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.43 $2.43

-27.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.9 $60.9

$75.3 $75.3

-19.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.17 $3.17

-15.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.70 $1.70

-15.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.45 $24.45

$24.90 $24.90

-1.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.28 $1.28

-16.41%

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

$34.3K $34.3K

$35.8K $35.8K

-4.09%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.10%

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

$215 $215

$192 $192

11.84%

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

$60.5 $60.5

$69.6 $69.6

-13.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.7 $69.7

$62.2 $62.2

12.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 $43.48

$47.79 $47.79

-9.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 $11.87

$17.83 $17.83

-33.43%

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

$1,034 $1,034

$1,815 $1,815

-43.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.4K $20.4K

$40.6K $40.6K

-49.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 $59.8

$66.2 $66.2

-9.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.19 $39.19

$51.4 $51.4

-23.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.9 $95.9

$103 $103

-7.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$143 $143

-18.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$2,531 $2,531

-46.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,186 $1,186

$1,621 $1,621

-26.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,184 $2,184

$4,828 $4,828

-54.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$2,734 $2,734

-29.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,802 $2,802

$4,163 $4,163

-32.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,166 $2,166

$2,723 $2,723

-20.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.78

-4.28%

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

Last update for Madison Heights, MI: November 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Madison Heights, MI

$1.2K 47.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 36.7% $435

Groceries & Markets

Madison Heights, MI

$389 15.5%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 12.9% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Madison Heights, MI

$345 13.7%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 6.1% $21

Eating Out

Madison Heights, MI

$308 12.3%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 11.7% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Madison Heights, MI

$140 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 17% $24

Getting Around

Madison Heights, MI

$78 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 24.2% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Madison Heights, MI

$67 2.7%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 24.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,348 in Madison Heights, MI versus $2,531 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63 in Madison Heights, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $439 – making Madison Heights, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Madison Heights, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:49 5:49 AM

04:49 4:49 AM

1 h behind Madison Heights, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

30,042

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Madison Heights, MI Chicago, IL 380 km

From you

Madison Heights, MI
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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

Madison Heights, MI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,513 in Madison Heights, MI, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Madison Heights, MI comes out roughly 18% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,769 per month in Madison Heights, MI and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madison Heights, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,348 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63 in Madison Heights, 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 $2,513 in Madison Heights, MI and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

For expats, Madison Heights, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 18% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.