Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 4 categories
Michigan
Moderate tax burden · COL index 88
Wins 9 categories
Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Michigan's 1.32%. Politically, Michigan voted Republican in 2024 (R+2.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
4
Illinois
9
Michigan
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Is Illinois or Michigan better to live in?
Analysts considered affordability, the economy, education and health, quality of life and safety when creating the list. Overall, Michigan ranked at number 32 out of the 50 states. Other nearby states had higher rankings than Michigan: Indiana (27), Wisconsin (8), Ohio (30) and Illinois (16).
Why are people moving out of the state of Illinois?
Which state is cheaper to live in, Michigan or Illinois?
Cost Of Living Comparison And Budget Adjustments Michigan's overall cost of living runs approximately 8-12% below Illinois, with the savings concentrated in housing and taxes.
Which is better to live, Detroit or Chicago?
The average cost of groceries in Detroit, MI is 2.3% lower than Chicago, IL. The average cost of utilities in Detroit, MI is 4.4% higher than Chicago, IL. The average cost of transportation in Detroit, MI is 0.6% higher than Chicago, IL. The average rent in Detroit, MI is 45.7% lower than Chicago, IL.