Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Castle, DE Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Castle, DE

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 18.6% more expensive than New Castle, DE without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than New Castle, DE without rent, and 25.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.61 $19.61
6.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$81.1 $81.1
23.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$14.99 $14.99
-20.15%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.17 $5.17
7.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.48 $2.48
25.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.94 $1.94
24.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.03 $8.03
-14.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.03 $8.03
5.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.76 $0.76
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.1 $4.1
1.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$9.28 $9.28
-40.52%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.12 $12.12
18.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.39 $11.39
30.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.29 $15.29
26.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$2.88 $2.88
79.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.57 $2.57
-33.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.22 $2.22
98.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.8 $1.8
150.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.68 $1.68
50.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.71 $3.71
-26.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.61 $2.61
-6.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.94 $2.94
-8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.87 $10.87
39.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.09 $15.09
8.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.71 $1.71
37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$6.35 $6.35
-41.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6.15 $6.15
-45.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.34 $1.34
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.48 $41.48
-38.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.83 $0.83
30.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
7.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$177 $177
6.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$51.1 $51.1
24.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$54.7 $54.7
19.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.72 $42.72
79.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$9.94 $9.94
50.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,894 $1,894
8.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$40.7K $40.7K
-3.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$29.83 $29.83
115.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$54 $54
-2.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$49.63 $49.63
91.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$98.2 $98.2
47.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,625 $1,625
46.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,330 $1,330
19.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,635 $2,635
80.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,240 $2,240
25.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,461 $2,461
45.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,081 $2,081
19.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Castle, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$2,544 $2,544
107.38%
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 New Castle, DE: October 28, 2025

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