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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.6% more expensive than Milton, DE without rent, and 13.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14% more expensive than Milton, DE without rent, and 20.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.25 $19.25
8.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.8 $74.8
34.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.03 $11.03
8.52%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.03 $5.03
10.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.52 $2.52
23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.95 $1.95
24.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.11 $6.11
12.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.08 $7.08
19.35%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.42 $3.42
21.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.31 $4.31
28.07%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.13 $4.13
12.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.29 $12.29
16.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.3 $11.3
31.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.33 $15.33
26.16%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.01 $5.01
3.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.57 $1.57
8.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.14 $4.14
6.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.61 $4.61
-2.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.91 $2.91
-13.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.78 $2.78
-1.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.17 $2.17
24.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.8 $9.8
55.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.79 $13.79
19.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.77 $1.77
32.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.39 $3.39
9.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.05 $2.05
23.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$59.6 $59.6
24.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.6 $3.6
-7.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.65 $1.65
-13.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$28.93 $28.93
-12.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
7.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.55%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
1.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.8 $51.8
22.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$68.6 $68.6
-4.93%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.18 $42.18
81.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$39.62 $39.62
-67.11%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.65 $13.65
9.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,273 $1,273
62.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
64.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.3 $50.3
27.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.78 $40.78
28.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88.1 $88.1
8.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$110 $110
31.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,624 $1,624
46.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,355 $1,355
16.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,680 $2,680
77.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,191 $2,191
28.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,721 $2,721
31.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,474 $2,474
0.65%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Milton, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,970 $3,970
32.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Milton, DE: October 27, 2025

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