Cost of living comparison

compared to
Illinois vs. Detroit Cost of Living Summary

Illinois is 8.4% more expensive than Detroit.

Restaurants
pay 2.9% less in Illinois
Groceries
pay 3.9% more in Illinois
Transportation
pay 5.9% more in Illinois
Housing
pay 4.4% less in Illinois
Childcare
pay 26.5% more in Illinois
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.8% more in Illinois
Clothing
pay 14.1% more in Illinois

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, clothing, transportation, and groceries in Illinois are more expensive than in Detroit. Expenses including housing and restaurants are lower in Illinois.

Illinois vs. Detroit Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Illinois instead of Detroit, you would:

pay 2.9% less for restaurants

 
Detroit
Illinois
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
 
$16.03
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.00
 
$10.33
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.47
 
$2.49
 

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pay 3.9% more for groceries

 
Detroit
Illinois
Bread
1 loaf
$2.75
 
$3.19
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.96
 
$5.63
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.28
 
$3.30
 

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pay 5.9% more for transportation

 
Detroit
Illinois
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.49
 
$3.61
 
Monthly public transit pass $66.00
 
$72.95
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,699.74
 
$28,096.73
 

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pay 4.4% less for housing

 
Detroit
Illinois
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$58.33
 
$65.96
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,483.17
 
$1,375.37
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,092.83
 
$1,146.99
 

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pay 26.5% more for childcare

 
Detroit
Illinois
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,294.79
 
$1,394.11
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $16,800.00
 
$24,405.00
 

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pay 15.8% more for entertainment and sports

 
Detroit
Illinois
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.00
 
$5.17
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.87
 
$4.81
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$10.00
 
$9.79
 

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pay 14.1% more for clothing

 
Detroit
Illinois
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$45.58
 
$51.50
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$32.50
 
$41.59
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$82.00
 
$80.60
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: January 2025
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