Median rent is 8% lower in Sterling Heights ($1,267/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Sterling Heights, where the median home runs $260,700 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Sterling Heights ($78,429 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Sterling Heights, MI
How much would you need to earn in Sterling Heights, MI to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
Sterling Heights
Michigan
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Sterling Heights at $1,267/mo compared to $1,380/mo in Chicago (8% gap). Median home values are within 17% of each other: $315,200 in Chicago and $260,700 in Sterling Heights.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 4.25% in Michigan, so Sterling Heights is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 6.00% in Michigan; Sterling Heights has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Sterling Heights
Income tax: 4.25%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for Chicago (avg AQI 21.0) but not yet for Sterling Heights.
Pick Sterling Heights if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.25%).
Is Chicago cheaper than Sterling Heights?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Sterling Heights?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,267/mo in Sterling Heights, MI. Sterling Heights, MI has the lower rent by about 8%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Sterling Heights?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $78,429 in Sterling Heights, MI. Sterling Heights, MI has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Chicago or Sterling Heights?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and Michigan's is 4.25%. Sterling Heights, MI has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Sterling Heights to match my Chicago income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology