I'm originally from Michigan, and when we go back to visit, we put just enough gas in to get us out of Illinois, then fill up in Indiana or MI. Its always 20-40 cents cheaper a gallon once you get away from Chicago. Chicago and the suburbs is just a really expensive place to live. DH and I always say..."if we had made as much money in MI as we make here, we would be rich." But here, we feel like the working poor!