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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in McHenry, IL is roughly 4% more expensive than Livonia, MI, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.87 $14.87

$18.07 $18.07

-17.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.1 $74.1

$67.3 $67.3

10.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.85 $10.85

$9.91 $9.91

9.49%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$4.84 $4.84

10.33%

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

$2.66 $2.66

$2.58 $2.58

3.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.57 $1.57

50.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.02 $6.02

$5.86 $5.86

2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$7.19 $7.19

-0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.90 $0.90

2.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.56 $3.56

6.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.04 $5.04

4.96%

Eggs

$4.01 $4.01

$3.17 $3.17

26.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.14 $14.14

$12.46 $12.46

13.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 $13.05

$12.22 $12.22

6.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.58 $16.58

$17.74 $17.74

-6.54%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.55 $5.55

-20.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.31 $1.31

17.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.48 $6.48

-11.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$5.76 $5.76

-16.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.21 $2.21

22.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.65 $3.65

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.49 $2.49

-22.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.48 $2.48

-18.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.06 $10.06

$10.18 $10.18

-1.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.34 $15.34

$15.08 $15.08

1.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.84 $1.84

29.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.64 $4.64

$3.55 $3.55

30.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.95 $1.95

2.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 $29.70

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.64 $4.64

-1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.36 $1.36

55.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.49 $42.49

$28.11 $28.11

51.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.87 $0.87

-4.60%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.49%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$24.6K $24.6K

1.54%

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

$214 $214

$162 $162

31.78%

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

$51.3 $51.3

$49.42 $49.42

3.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.2 $76.2

$53.8 $53.8

41.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 $42.14

$42.21 $42.21

-0.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 $15.09

$11.18 $11.18

34.97%

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

$1,659 $1,659

$1,118 $1,118

48.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.6K $24.6K

$21.0K $21.0K

17.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$64.2 $64.2

-21.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.91 $48.91

$30.65 $30.65

59.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$96.3 $96.3

4.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 $132

$108 $108

22.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$1,136 $1,136

38.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$1,351 $1,351

2.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,629 $2,629

-0.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 $2,203

$2,202 $2,202

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)

$5,513 $5,513

$5,503 $5,503

0.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.51

0.61%

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

Last update for McHenry, IL: May 31, 2026

Last update for Livonia, MI: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,574 in McHenry, IL and $1,136 in Livonia, MI. 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: $74.0 in McHenry, IL vs $67.0 in Livonia, MI. Groceries flip the comparison at $418 vs $420, 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

McHenry, IL vs Livonia, MI: 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.

McHenry, IL pays 0% 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: $1,574 in McHenry, IL versus $1,136 in Livonia, MI. 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 $2,653 per month in McHenry, IL versus $2,555 in Livonia, MI – 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, McHenry, IL and Livonia, MI 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.