Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Midland, MI and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Midland, MI: $1,873 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Midland, MI
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Midland, MI Living Index
147

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

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Midland, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$1,873

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,873 per month in Midland, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Midland, MI $1,873
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,699 per month in Midland, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Midland, MI $2,699
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,525 per month in Midland, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Midland, MI $3,525
Chicago, IL $5,999

Midland, MI is about 38% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Midland, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Midland, MI by 38%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.13 $20.13

$20.71 $20.71

-2.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 $50.7

$89.2 $89.2

-43.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 $9.90

$13.19 $13.19

-24.94%

Cappuccino

$4.98 $4.98

$5.66 $5.66

-12.01%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$2.64 $2.64

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.28 $2.28

-35.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 $3.86

$6.87 $6.87

-43.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 $4.93

$8.84 $8.84

-44.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.25 $1.25

-32.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 $2.59

$3.72 $3.72

-30.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$5.39 $5.39

-59.37%

Eggs

$3.30 $3.30

$4.74 $4.74

-30.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 $11.19

$13.84 $13.84

-19.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.65 $7.65

$14.40 $14.40

-46.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 $10.90

$18.38 $18.38

-40.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.22 $5.22

-35.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.98 $1.98

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.06 $4.06

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$4.97 $4.97

-24.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.67 $2.67

-3.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.66 $2.66

-22.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.24 $2.24

-9.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$3.13 $3.13

-68.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.02 $10.02

$13.82 $13.82

-27.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 $13.47

$14.88 $14.88

-9.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.54 $2.54

-23.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.51 $3.51

-13.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.43 $2.43

-19.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$122 $122

$73.5 $73.5

65.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.18 $3.18

-19.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.39 $1.39

82.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.32 $39.32

$25.03 $25.03

57.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.20 $1.20

-20.00%

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

$31.2K $31.2K

$35.0K $35.0K

-11.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.94%

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

$181 $181

$194 $194

-7.09%

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

$40.27 $40.27

$69.5 $69.5

-42.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.30 $49.30

$61.6 $61.6

-20.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.34 $42.34

$47.90 $47.90

-11.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.69 $31.69

$27.34 $27.34

15.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$17.81 $17.81

-32.90%

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

$1,675 $1,675

$1,794 $1,794

-6.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$31.9K $31.9K

-55.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.43 $45.43

$67.0 $67.0

-32.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.85 $39.85

$52.1 $52.1

-23.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 $72.4

$102 $102

-28.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 $78.5

$144 $144

-45.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$710 $710

$2,526 $2,526

-71.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 $694

$1,578 $1,578

-56.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 $1,755

$4,738 $4,738

-62.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$986 $986

$2,693 $2,693

-63.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,822 $1,822

$4,190 $4,190

-56.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,823 $1,823

$2,768 $2,768

-34.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,705 $6,705

$4,931 $4,931

36.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.81

-4.41%

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

Last update for Midland, MI: October 27, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Midland, MI

$694 37.1%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 127% $884

Groceries & Markets

Midland, MI

$297 15.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 50.6% $150

Eating Out

Midland, MI

$294 15.7%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 17.2% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Midland, MI

$270 14.4%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 20.5% $55

Getting Around

Midland, MI

$145 7.7%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 35.4% $51

Clothing & Footwear

Midland, MI

$106 5.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 54.3% $58

Sport & Entertainment

Midland, MI

$66 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 26.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $710 in Midland, MI versus $2,526 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.

Salaries run about 36% higher in Midland, MI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51 in Midland, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $447 – making Midland, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Midland, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

17:58 5:58 PM

16:58 4:58 PM

1 h behind Midland, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

132,524

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Midland, MI Chicago, IL 340 km

From you

Midland, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,873 in Midland, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Midland, MI comes out roughly 38% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,809 per month in Midland, MI and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Midland, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $710 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 51% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51 in Midland, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Midland, MI, where all-in costs run around $1,873, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Midland, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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