Illinois
IL • Midwest
Quality of Life Score
54.60
State Comparison
Illinois vs Michigan
Michigan is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Michigan, Illinois has higher incomes, Michigan has lower state income tax, and Illinois gets more sunshine.
Illinois
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Michigan
16
/ 31
metrics won
MI wins Housing
MI wins Quality of Life
IL wins Climate
IL wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Illinois
winner
vs
Michigan
Illinois scores higher on quality of life — 3.53 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Michigan is 3.6 points cheaper overall
Michigan has the lower cost-of-living index. Michigan is at 91.6, while Illinois is at 95.2.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $6.30 further in Michigan
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $110.59 of local buying power in Michigan, versus $104.29 in Illinois.
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Income
Illinois income is 14.5% higher
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, compared with $68,505 in Michigan.
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Jobs
Illinois minimum wage is $2.52 higher
Illinois has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.00/hr, compared with $12.48/hr in Michigan.
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Housing
Illinois homes cost about 1.2x more
Michigan has the lower median home value at $211,700, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
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Taxes
Michigan has lower state income tax
Michigan has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.05%, compared with 4.95% in Illinois.
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Illinois
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 5.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Michigan
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.0%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (97.6 for Illinois, 90.8 for Michigan). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Illinois
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Illinois
- Illinois shows higher median income.
- Illinois has a lower violent crime rate.
- Illinois health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Illinois education proxy is higher.
- Illinois has more sunny days.
Cons
- Illinois has a higher overall cost of living.
- Illinois has a higher housing cost index.
- Illinois has higher median home values.
- Illinois has higher property tax rates on average.
- Illinois job growth trend is weaker.
- Illinois health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Michigan
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Michigan
- Michigan has a lower overall cost of living.
- Michigan has a lower housing cost index.
- Michigan has lower median home values.
- Michigan has lower property tax rates on average.
- Michigan job growth trend is stronger.
- Michigan health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Michigan shows lower median income.
- Michigan has a higher violent crime rate.
- Michigan health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Michigan education proxy is lower.
- Michigan has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
IL
|
MI
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Springfield | Lansing |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Swing State |
|
Population
|
12,812,508
|
10,077,331
|
|
Median Income
|
$78,433
|
$68,505
|
|
Cost of Living
|
95.2
|
91.6
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$247,500
|
$211,700
|
|
Property Tax
|
2.01%
|
1.25%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.95%
|
4.05%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$15.00/hr
|
$12.48/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.294/gal
|
$3.861/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
16.36 c/kWh
|
19.52 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
54.60
|
51.07
|
|
Average Temperature
|
51.8°F
|
44.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
95 days
|
71 days
|
|
Land Area
|
57,914 sq mi
|
96,714 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
221.2 per sq mi
|
104.2 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
December 3, 1818 (#21)
|
January 26, 1837 (#26)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
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Saving Money
Michigan is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 91.6 vs 95.2 in Illinois. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Michigan is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.861/gal in Michigan vs $4.294/gal in Illinois. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Illinois has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.00/hr in Illinois vs $12.48/hr in Michigan. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Illinois has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.36 c/kWh in Illinois vs 19.52 c/kWh in Michigan. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Michigan is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.09x in Michigan vs 3.16x in Illinois. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Michigan is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.5% in Michigan vs 18.8% in Illinois. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
Illinois has a larger population than Michigan by 2,735,177 people.
Population Density
Illinois is more densely populated than Michigan.
Bachelor's Degree
Illinois has a higher college-educated share than Michigan.
Advanced Degree
Illinois has a higher advanced-degree share than Michigan.
People Also Ask
Illinois vs Michigan - Common Questions
Q Is Illinois cheaper to live in than Michigan?
Michigan has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Michigan scores 91.6 versus 95.2 for Illinois - a gap of 3.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Illinois or Michigan?
$100 goes further in Michigan. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $110.59 in Michigan, compared with $104.29 in Illinois.
Q Which state is bigger - Illinois or Michigan?
Michigan is larger, covering 96,714 sq mi compared with 57,914 sq mi for Illinois - roughly 1.7x the size.
Q Does Illinois or Michigan have more people?
Illinois has the larger population at 12,812,508, compared with 10,077,331 in Michigan.
Q Which state has higher household income - Illinois or Michigan?
Illinois has the higher median household income at $78,433, versus $68,505 in Michigan.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Illinois or Michigan?
Michigan has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.05%, compared with 4.95% in Illinois.
Q Is housing cheaper in Illinois or Michigan?
Homes are cheaper in Michigan, where the median home value is $211,700, versus $247,500 in Illinois.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Illinois or Michigan?
Illinois is more densely populated at 221.2 per sq mi people per sq mi. Michigan is more spread out at 104.2 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.