Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mount Pleasant, MI and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Mount Pleasant, MI: $1,901 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

92

Cost of Living Index in Mount Pleasant, MI
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Mount Pleasant, MI Living Index
147

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

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Mount Pleasant, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$1,901

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,901 per month in Mount Pleasant, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mount Pleasant, MI $1,901
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,743 per month in Mount Pleasant, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mount Pleasant, MI $2,743
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,585 per month in Mount Pleasant, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Mount Pleasant, MI $3,585
Chicago, IL $5,999

Mount Pleasant, MI is about 37% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Mount Pleasant, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Mount Pleasant, MI by 40%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.68 $17.68

$20.71 $20.71

-14.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 $62.2

$89.2 $89.2

-30.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.06 $13.06

$13.19 $13.19

-0.99%

Cappuccino

$3.92 $3.92

$5.66 $5.66

-30.74%

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

$1.61 $1.61

$2.64 $2.64

-39.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.28 $2.28

-15.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 $3.95

$6.87 $6.87

-42.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.53 $5.53

$8.84 $8.84

-37.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.25 $1.25

-45.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.72 $3.72

-18.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.39 $5.39

-38.40%

Eggs

$1.80 $1.80

$4.74 $4.74

-62.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 $10.04

$13.84 $13.84

-27.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$14.40 $14.40

-21.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$18.38 $18.38

-15.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$5.22 $5.22

-33.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.98 $1.98

-18.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.06 $4.06

-30.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$4.97 $4.97

-5.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.67 $2.67

-5.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.66 $2.66

16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.24 $2.24

-11.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 $0.43

$3.13 $3.13

-86.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 $10.31

$13.82 $13.82

-25.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 $13.05

$14.88 $14.88

-12.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.54 $2.54

24.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$3.51 $3.51

-56.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.43 $2.43

-15.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.92 $39.92

$73.5 $73.5

-45.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.18 $3.18

-4.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.39 $1.39

15.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.90 $23.90

$25.03 $25.03

-4.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.20 $1.20

-16.67%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$35.0K $35.0K

-14.46%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-2.30%

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

$214 $214

$194 $194

9.85%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$69.5 $69.5

-15.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$61.6 $61.6

12.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.03 $20.03

$47.90 $47.90

-58.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 $10.10

$17.81 $17.81

-43.29%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,794 $1,794

-23.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.5K $32.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 $60.0

$67.0 $67.0

-10.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.05 $41.05

$52.1 $52.1

-21.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$102 $102

-4.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$144 $144

-18.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$812 $812

$2,526 $2,526

-67.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$722 $722

$1,578 $1,578

-54.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 $1,355

$4,738 $4,738

-71.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 $1,063

$2,693 $2,693

-60.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,448 $1,448

$4,190 $4,190

-65.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,460 $1,460

$2,768 $2,768

-47.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,261 $6,261

$4,931 $4,931

26.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.12

6.81

-24.82%

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

Last update for Mount Pleasant, MI: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Mount Pleasant, MI

$722 37.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 119% $856

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mount Pleasant, MI

$342 18%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 4.8% $16

Groceries & Markets

Mount Pleasant, MI

$324 17%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 38.1% $123

Eating Out

Mount Pleasant, MI

$273 14.3%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 26.5% $72

Clothing & Footwear

Mount Pleasant, MI

$142 7.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 15.6% $22

Getting Around

Mount Pleasant, MI

$59 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 57.9% $34

Sport & Entertainment

Mount Pleasant, MI

$40 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 108% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $812 in Mount Pleasant, 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 27% higher in Mount Pleasant, 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 $62 in Mount Pleasant, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $447 – making Mount Pleasant, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Mount Pleasant, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

03:50 3:50 AM

02:50 2:50 AM

1 h behind Mount Pleasant, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

15,202

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Mount Pleasant, MI Chicago, IL 300 km

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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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,901 in Mount Pleasant, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Mount Pleasant, MI comes out roughly 37% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,852 per month in Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $812 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, MI, where all-in costs run around $1,901, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Mount Pleasant, MI it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

For expats, Mount Pleasant, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 37% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.