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: $2,727 in McHenry, IL versus $2,302 in Livonia, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,964 in McHenry, IL versus $3,272 in Livonia, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,201 in McHenry, IL versus $4,242 in Livonia, MI.

Living in McHenry, IL is roughly 18% more expensive than in Livonia, MI, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: McHenry, IL 98% above, Livonia, MI 68% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.84 $19.84

$19.93 $19.93

-0.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.8 $66.8

$62.0 $62.0

7.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.05 $13.05

$10.07 $10.07

29.59%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$4.44 $4.44

27.25%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$2.84 $2.84

11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.69 $1.69

48.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.12 $6.12

12.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.29 $7.29

$6.62 $6.62

10.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.00 $1.00

-7.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.51 $3.51

5.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.00 $5.00

0.40%

Eggs

$3.82 $3.82

$4.00 $4.00

-4.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.13 $15.13

$13.80 $13.80

9.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.94 $13.94

$11.98 $11.98

16.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.51 $20.51

$16.71 $16.71

22.74%

Apples (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.97 $4.97

-3.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

Oranges (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.66 $5.66

-9.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$4.92 $4.92

0.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.58 $2.58

8.14%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.53 $3.53

-10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.42 $2.42

-14.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.57 $2.57

-4.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.40 $10.40

$10.58 $10.58

-1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.38 $15.38

$14.98 $14.98

2.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.07 $2.07

31.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.52 $3.52

27.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.24 $2.24

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.38 $30.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.72 $4.72

-16.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.94 $1.94

2.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.36 $44.36

$23.67 $23.67

87.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.02 $1.02

-10.78%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$35.3K $35.3K

2.27%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$24.9K $24.9K

1.51%

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

$255 $255

$163 $163

56.65%

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

$52.4 $52.4

$51.0 $51.0

2.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.6 $82.6

$69.8 $69.8

18.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.38 $42.38

$40.07 $40.07

5.76%

Cinema Ticket

$14.91 $14.91

$11.89 $11.89

25.40%

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

$1,694 $1,694

$1,147 $1,147

47.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$32.3K $32.3K

-28.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 $64.4

$65.5 $65.5

-1.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$49.54 $49.54

3.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$97.1 $97.1

10.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$116 $116

4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,606 $1,606

$1,160 $1,160

38.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 $1,302

$1,018 $1,018

27.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,514 $2,514

$1,584 $1,584

58.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,171 $2,171

$1,382 $1,382

57.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,779 $2,779

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,358 $2,358

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,577 $5,577

$5,635 $5,635

-1.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.29

6.3

-0.16%

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

Last update for McHenry, IL: August 31, 2026

Last update for Livonia, MI: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,606 in McHenry, IL and $1,160 in Livonia, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Livonia, MI pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in McHenry, IL vs $62.0 in Livonia, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $417 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

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

Livonia, MI is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Livonia, MI. 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: $1,606 in McHenry, IL versus $1,160 in Livonia, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in McHenry, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,727 per month in McHenry, IL versus $2,302 in Livonia, MI – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,302 in Livonia, MI versus $2,727 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 18% less than in McHenry, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.