Cost of Living Comparison Between Traverse City, MI and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Traverse City, MI and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,724 per month in Traverse City, MI vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,035 per month in Traverse City, MI vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,346 per month in Traverse City, MI vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Traverse City, MI is about 12% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Traverse City, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Traverse City, MI by 98%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.76 $21.76

$19.86 $19.86

9.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.0 $78.0

$88.3 $88.3

-11.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.26 $11.26

$13.23 $13.23

-14.89%

Cappuccino

$4.73 $4.73

$5.86 $5.86

-19.28%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$2.61 $2.61

-4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.32 $2.32

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$7.03 $7.03

-29.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.17 $6.17

$9.25 $9.25

-33.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.34 $1.34

-42.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 $2.86

$4.19 $4.19

-31.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.50 $5.50

-12.91%

Eggs

$2.77 $2.77

$4.71 $4.71

-41.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.12 $19.12

$14.72 $14.72

29.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.71 $16.71

$14.53 $14.53

15.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.01 $22.01

$19.69 $19.69

11.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.78 $6.78

$5.64 $5.64

20.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.97 $1.97

-34.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$4.04 $4.04

-3.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.97 $6.97

$5.07 $5.07

37.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.94 $2.94

-7.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.92 $2.92

11.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.28 $2.28

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.12 $3.12

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 $5.92

$16.19 $16.19

-63.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.08 $15.08

$15.17 $15.17

-0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.67 $2.67

-24.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.48 $3.48

106.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.54 $2.54

135.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.80 $29.80

$76.0 $76.0

-60.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.20 $1.20

-15.83%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.28%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.50%

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

$119 $119

$190 $190

-37.17%

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

$36.89 $36.89

$68.5 $68.5

-46.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$61.1 $61.1

10.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.4 $64.4

$63.8 $63.8

0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$9.41 $9.41

$18.28 $18.28

-48.52%

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

$1,027 $1,027

$1,525 $1,525

-32.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K $11.1K

$32.0K $32.0K

-65.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 $58.6

$64.0 $64.0

-8.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$54.4 $54.4

-22.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$101 $101

1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 $85.5

$153 $153

-44.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 $2,012

$2,421 $2,421

-16.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,415 $1,415

$1,690 $1,690

-16.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,832 $3,832

$4,584 $4,584

-16.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,322 $2,322

$2,782 $2,782

-16.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,036 $5,036

$4,170 $4,170

20.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,619 $3,619

$2,739 $2,739

32.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,749 $2,749

$4,777 $4,777

-42.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.04

6.38

-5.33%

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

Last update for Traverse City, MI: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,012 in Traverse City, MI versus $2,421 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 74% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Traverse City, MI versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $476 in Traverse City, MI vs $465 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,724 in Traverse City, MI, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 14% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,085 per month in Traverse City, MI and $4,659 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Traverse City, MI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Traverse City, MI and $88.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,724 in Traverse City, MI and $3,106 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,724 in Traverse City, MI to $3,106 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Traverse City, MI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.