Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Huron, MI and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Huron, MI: $2,665 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Huron, MI, United States
Chicago, IL, United States
Port Huron, MI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,665
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,037
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,665 per month in Port Huron, MI vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Port Huron, MI $2,665
  • Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,871 per month in Port Huron, MI vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Port Huron, MI $3,871
  • Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,078 per month in Port Huron, MI vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Port Huron, MI $5,078
  • Chicago, IL $5,999

Port Huron, MI is about 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Port Huron, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Port Huron, MI by 96%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 $20.07
$20.71 $20.71
-3.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.1 $76.1
$89.2 $89.2
-14.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.51 $14.51
$13.19 $13.19
10.01%
Cappuccino
$5.23 $5.23
$5.66 $5.66
-7.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.64 $2.64
-7.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.28 $2.28
9.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.18 $6.18
$6.87 $6.87
-10.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46 $7.46
$8.84 $8.84
-15.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.25 $1.25
-21.60%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.72 $3.72
-4.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$5.39 $5.39
-19.48%
Eggs
$5.37 $5.37
$4.74 $4.74
13.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.63 $12.63
$13.84 $13.84
-8.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.41 $11.41
$14.40 $14.40
-20.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.86 $16.86
$18.38 $18.38
-8.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$5.22 $5.22
-5.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.98 $1.98
-20.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$4.06 $4.06
5.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$4.97 $4.97
-7.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$2.67 $2.67
7.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.66 $2.66
11.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.24 $2.24
-5.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$3.13 $3.13
-27.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91 $9.91
$13.82 $13.82
-28.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.98 $14.98
$14.88 $14.88
0.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.54 $2.54
-12.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.51 $3.51
-1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.43 $2.43
-6.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.8 $58.8
$73.5 $73.5
-20.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.18 $3.18
3.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.39 $1.39
12.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.06 $33.06
$25.03 $25.03
32.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.20 $1.20
-5.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K $29.0K
$35.0K $35.0K
-17.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K $24.6K
$26.7K $26.7K
-7.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 $200
$194 $194
2.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.1 $57.1
$69.5 $69.5
-17.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.8 $91.8
$61.6 $61.6
48.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.7 $59.7
$47.90 $47.90
24.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.34 $27.34
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.08 $13.08
$17.81 $17.81
-26.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,371 $1,371
$1,794 $1,794
-23.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.6K $25.6K
$31.9K $31.9K
-19.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.67 $45.67
$67.0 $67.0
-31.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.27 $43.27
$52.1 $52.1
-17.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 $78.8
$102 $102
-22.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$144 $144
-18.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,585 $1,585
$2,526 $2,526
-37.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$1,578 $1,578
-18.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$4,738 $4,738
-46.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,083 $2,083
$2,693 $2,693
-22.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,812 $2,812
$4,190 $4,190
-32.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,694 $2,694
$2,768 $2,768
-2.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Huron, MI
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,488 $3,488
$4,931 $4,931
-29.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.81
-3.52%

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

Last update for Port Huron, 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
Port Huron, MI
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.6K 22.4% $288
Groceries & Markets
Port Huron, MI
$402
Chicago, IL
$447 11.3% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Huron, MI
$349
Chicago, IL
$326 6.6% $23
Eating Out
Port Huron, MI
$332
Chicago, IL
$345 3.8% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Port Huron, MI
$128
Chicago, IL
$164 28.2% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Port Huron, MI
$86
Chicago, IL
$84 2.7% $2.3
Getting Around
Port Huron, MI
$79
Chicago, IL
$93 18.2% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,585 in Port Huron, 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 41% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Port Huron, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $402 vs $447 – making Port Huron, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Port Huron, MI
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
06:43 6:43 AM
05:43 5:43 AM
1 h behind Port Huron, MI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,983
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Huron, MI Chicago, IL 440 km
From you
  • Port Huron, MI
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Port Huron, MI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Port Huron, MI and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,665 in Port Huron, MI, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – Port Huron, MI comes out roughly 12% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Port Huron, MI compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,998 per month in Port Huron, MI and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Port Huron, MI and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Huron, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,585 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Port Huron, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,665 in Port Huron, MI and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Port Huron, MI or Chicago, IL?
Families tend to lean toward Port Huron, MI – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Port Huron, MI and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Port Huron, MI. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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