Milan, MI vs Winthrop Harbor, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Winthrop Harbor, IL has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% higher than Milan, MI.

Milan, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,500 / month
Winthrop Harbor, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,510 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Milan, MI and Winthrop Harbor, IL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $237/month in Winthrop Harbor, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,847 in Winthrop Harbor, IL

Regional cost estimates: Milan, MI uses Detroit, MI. Winthrop Harbor, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$237
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$2.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Milan, MI

Population:6K
Cost Index:
80.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$294K

Winthrop Harbor, IL

Population:7K
Cost Index:
82.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$287K

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Milan, MI

The Great Lakes State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Winthrop Harbor, IL

The Prairie State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Milan, MI vs Winthrop Harbor, IL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 23.3%
Milan, MI
$1,544
Winthrop Harbor, IL
$1,903
Difference
$360
more
Transportation
↓ 10.5%
Milan, MI
$1,728
Winthrop Harbor, IL
$1,547
Difference
$181
less
Healthcare
↑ 27.4%
Milan, MI
$650
Winthrop Harbor, IL
$828
Difference
$178
more
Other
↓ 4.0%
Milan, MI
$1,842
Winthrop Harbor, IL
$1,767
Difference
$74.30
less
All Utilities
↓ 8.8%
Milan, MI
$642
Winthrop Harbor, IL
$586
Difference
$56.78
less
Groceries
↑ 1.0%
Milan, MI
$1,094
Winthrop Harbor, IL
$1,105
Difference
$11.32
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,200
To$1,250
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,220
To$1,340
↑ $120
2 Bed
From$1,500
To$1,510
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,810
To$1,940
↑ $130
Milan, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,220–$1,220/mo

Winthrop Harbor, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Milan, MI
$7,737
Monthly in Winthrop Harbor, IL
$237
Difference

Home Values

Milan
Winthrop Harbor
$294K
Median Value
$287K
↑ +3.6%
YoY Change
↑ +15%
↑ +27.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +62.7%

Homes in Winthrop Harbor are 3% less expensive than Milan

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$87.50
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

Milan, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Winthrop Harbor, IL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Illinois State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,797/month
$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Milan, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

Winthrop Harbor, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:2.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Milan
Winthrop Harbor
55 Moderate
Air Quality
43 Good
32.8%
Good Air Days
68.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
13 days

Before moving from Milan, MI to Winthrop Harbor, IL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Winthrop Harbor, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Milan, MI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Milan to Winthrop Harbor moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Winthrop Harbor, IL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Milan, MI vs Winthrop Harbor, IL

How do the cost estimates for Milan, MI and Winthrop Harbor, IL compare?

Winthrop Harbor, IL has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% higher than Milan, MI. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Milan, MI, the model estimates $152,847 in Winthrop Harbor, IL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Milan, MI and Winthrop Harbor, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,500/month in Milan, MI and $1,510/month in Winthrop Harbor, IL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Michigan and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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