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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Monroe, MI is 35.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 31.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Monroe, MI is 30.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 29.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.86 $11.86
$20.82 $20.82
-43.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.56 $31.56
$100 $100
-68.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.09 $8.09
$11.97 $11.97
-32.41%
Cappuccino
$3.47 $3.47
$5.56 $5.56
-37.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 $1.46
$3.11 $3.11
-53.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$2.42 $2.42
-58.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 $4.08
$6.86 $6.86
-40.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97 $4.97
$8.45 $8.45
-41.18%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.04 $1.04
-22.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.43 $2.43
$4.15 $4.15
-41.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$5.52 $5.52
-69.57%
Eggs
$2.28 $2.28
$4.65 $4.65
-50.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.02 $11.02
$14.33 $14.33
-23.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 $6.75
$14.88 $14.88
-54.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.41 $20.41
$19.34 $19.34
5.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$5.17 $5.17
-23.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.71 $1.71
-26.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.9 $1.9
$4.41 $4.41
-56.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.51 $4.51
-2.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 $1.26
$2.53 $2.53
-50.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.74 $2.74
1.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.43 $2.43
-20.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 $1.17
$2.7 $2.7
-56.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.03 $8.03
$15.19 $15.19
-47.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.19 $20.19
$16.42 $16.42
22.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 $3.74
$3.7 $3.7
1.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.86 $4.86
$3.34 $3.34
45.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.42 $1.42
-9.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.03 $49.03
$25.42 $25.42
92.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.08 $1.08
-20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
16.33%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$243 $243
$188 $188
28.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.8 $56.8
$63.7 $63.7
-10.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.6 $71.6
$65.2 $65.2
9.83%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.88 $42.88
$76.7 $76.7
-44.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.7 $8.7
$14.93 $14.93
-41.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$974 $974
$2,063 $2,063
-52.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-40.06%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 $50.9
$64.3 $64.3
-20.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.68 $47.68
$52.4 $52.4
-8.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 $94.1
$95.2 $95.2
-1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$145 $145
-29.77%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,602 $1,602
$2,378 $2,378
-32.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$962 $962
$1,584 $1,584
-39.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,623 $2,623
$4,763 $4,763
-44.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,210 $2,210
$2,815 $2,815
-21.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,800 $1,800
$3,588 $3,588
-49.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,844 $1,844
$2,490 $2,490
-25.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Monroe, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,965 $5,965
$5,275 $5,275
13.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.61
6.6
0.15%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Monroe, MI: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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