Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Detroit

Michigan

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $970 in Detroit, MI. Overall, Detroit, MI is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $39,575 in Detroit, MI — about 47% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$801
+32% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$752
+40% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,001
+29% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,195
+23% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$76,800
+76% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$39,575
+47% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$52,080
+5% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
35.1 yr
+0.6 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
49.7%
+4.2 pp in Detroit, MI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
17.6%
+25.7 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
25.4 min
+8.1 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
1,783.4
+230% in Detroit, MI
Property Crime
3,489.9
4,391.6
+26% in Detroit, MI

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
50.3°F
+2.4°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
31.3 in
+6.6 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
22.0
+8% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$14.07
+9% in Chicago, IL

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / MI)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
4.25%
+0.7 pp in IL

Chicago vs Detroit — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Detroit?
Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Detroit?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $30,000 in Detroit.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Detroit?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Detroit under Michigan's (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).