Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dover, DE Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Dover, DE

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.1% more expensive than Dover, DE without rent, and 20% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.9% more expensive than Dover, DE without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$12.8 $12.8
62.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$58.8 $58.8
70.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.66 $10.66
12.29%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.1 $5.1
9.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.2 $2.2
41.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.31 $2.31
4.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.08 $5.08
35.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.84 $7.84
7.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.03 $1.03
0.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.18 $2.18
90.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.12 $5.12
7.81%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.2 $4.2
10.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.07 $12.07
18.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.54 $11.54
28.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$25.47 $25.47
-24.07%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.62 $6.62
-21.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.08 $1.08
58.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.48 $5.48
-19.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.69 $5.69
-20.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.12 $4.12
-38.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.23 $3.23
-15.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.74 $1.74
39.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.38 $2.38
13.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.47 $8.47
79.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$16.72 $16.72
-1.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.87 $1.87
25.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.37 $3.37
9.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.95 $1.95
29.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.81 $2.81
18.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.39 $1.39
2.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.85 $24.85
2.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.82 $0.82
31.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.7K $30.7K
5.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25K $25K
4.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$125 $125
50.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$43.44 $43.44
46.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$71 $71
-8.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.11 $43.11
77.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.74 $14.74
1.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$714 $714
189.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$21.6K $21.6K
81.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$56.7 $56.7
13.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$52.6 $52.6
-0.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$94.2 $94.2
1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$120 $120
20.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,803 $1,803
31.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,298 $1,298
22.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,511 $2,511
89.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,152 $2,152
30.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,019 $2,019
77.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,026 $2,026
22.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Dover, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$7,533 $7,533
-29.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Dover, DE: October 28, 2025

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