Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Washington, MI: $2,656 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

125

Cost of Living Index in Washington, MI
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Washington, MI Living Index
146

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

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Washington, MI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,656

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,656 per month in Washington, MI vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Washington, MI $2,656
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,635 per month in Washington, MI vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Washington, MI $3,635
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,614 per month in Washington, MI vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Washington, MI $4,614
Chicago, IL $6,019

Washington, MI is about 14% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Washington, MI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Washington, MI by 96%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.02 $18.02

$20.39 $20.39

-11.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 $45.03

$88.6 $88.6

-49.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 $8.97

$12.85 $12.85

-30.19%

Cappuccino

$5.80 $5.80

$5.78 $5.78

0.35%

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

$1.97 $1.97

$2.74 $2.74

-28.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.26 $2.26

-12.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.88 $6.88

-14.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.10 $8.10

$9.24 $9.24

-12.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.26 $1.26

-43.65%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.55 $3.55

-1.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.38 $5.38

-19.70%

Eggs

$1.46 $1.46

$4.55 $4.55

-67.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 $14.00

$13.65 $13.65

2.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$14.07 $14.07

-12.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.58 $19.58

$18.06 $18.06

8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$5.16 $5.16

3.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.98 $1.98

-17.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$3.88 $3.88

6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$4.83 $4.83

-19.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.81 $2.81

-5.34%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.67 $2.67

17.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.07 $2.07

8.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$3.03 $3.03

-33.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 $10.03

$13.90 $13.90

-27.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 $15.09

$15.05 $15.05

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.63 $2.63

-6.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.45 $3.45

2.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.43 $2.43

-8.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 $57.6

$75.3 $75.3

-23.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.17 $3.17

-12.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.70 $1.70

-16.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.50 $25.50

$24.90 $24.90

2.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.28 $1.28

-20.31%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

-2.46%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.77%

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

$216 $216

$192 $192

12.47%

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

$64.2 $64.2

$69.6 $69.6

-7.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.3 $73.3

$62.2 $62.2

17.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.72 $40.72

$47.79 $47.79

-14.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 $9.98

$17.83 $17.83

-44.03%

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

$1,027 $1,027

$1,815 $1,815

-43.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.2K $20.2K

$40.6K $40.6K

-50.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 $59.8

$66.2 $66.2

-9.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.12 $38.12

$51.4 $51.4

-25.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 $96.0

$103 $103

-7.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$143 $143

-18.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,608 $1,608

$2,531 $2,531

-36.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,326 $1,326

$1,621 $1,621

-18.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,865 $2,865

$4,828 $4,828

-40.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,867 $1,867

$2,734 $2,734

-31.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,639 $2,639

$4,163 $4,163

-36.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,723 $2,723

-10.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,009 $6,009

$4,924 $4,924

22.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.7

6.78

-1.18%

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

Last update for Washington, MI: November 2, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Washington, MI

$1.3K 49.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 22.2% $295

Groceries & Markets

Washington, MI

$397 15%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 10.6% $42

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Washington, MI

$353 13.3%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 8.4% $30

Eating Out

Washington, MI

$302 11.4%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 13.8% $42

Clothing & Footwear

Washington, MI

$140 5.3%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 17.2% $24

Getting Around

Washington, MI

$76 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 26.6% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Washington, MI

$61 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 37.5% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Washington, MI versus $2,531 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 22% higher in Washington, 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 $45 in Washington, MI versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $397 vs $439 – making Washington, MI the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Washington, MI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

03:51 3:51 AM

02:51 2:51 AM

1 h behind Washington, MI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

672,228

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Washington, MI Chicago, IL 390 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,656 in Washington, MI, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Washington, MI comes out roughly 14% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,984 per month in Washington, MI and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Washington, MI, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,608 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45 in Washington, MI and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,656 in Washington, MI and $3,072 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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

For expats, Washington, MI is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 14% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.