Route comparison
Chicago, IL vs Detroit, MI: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Chicago, IL
IL
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 105.7
- Housing RPP
- 110.9
- Goods RPP
- 106.7
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,714/mo
Illinois flat income tax 4.95%. Chicago city tax adds ~2.25% effective burden.
Detroit, MI
MI
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 96.1
- Housing RPP
- 94.3
- Goods RPP
- 94.5
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,291/mo
Michigan flat income tax 4.25%. Detroit city income tax 2.4% residents.
Equivalent salary
Detroit, MI is cheaper than Chicago, IL by about 9.1% (RPP 105.7 to 96.1).
$60,000 in Chicago, IL
-> $54,551
in Detroit, MI
$100,000 in Chicago, IL
-> $90,918
in Detroit, MI
$150,000 in Chicago, IL
-> $136,377
in Detroit, MI
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Chicago, IL vs Detroit, MI
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Chicago, IL
- Net people
- −73,936
- Net rank
- #63 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Maricopa County, AZ.
Detroit, MI
- Net people
- −17,645
- Net rank
- #54 of 65
- Top origin share
- 5%
- Top destination share
- 4%
Largest source: Washtenaw County, MI. Largest destination: Washtenaw County, MI.
Rent delta: Detroit, MI is $423/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Chicago, IL. Housing RPP moves from 110.9 to 94.3.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Detroit, MI cheaper or more expensive than Chicago, IL?
- Detroit, MI (RPP 96.1) is cheaper than Chicago, IL (RPP 105.7) by about 9.1%.
- What salary do I need in Detroit, MI if I earn $100,000 in Chicago, IL?
- You would need approximately $90,918 in Detroit, MI to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Chicago, IL. Formula: $100,000 x (96.1 / 105.7).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Chicago, IL or Detroit, MI?
- For 2021-2022, Chicago, IL had a net loss of 73,936 people, while Detroit, MI had a net loss of 17,645 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.