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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 31.1% more expensive than New Castle, PA without rent, and 17.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14% more expensive than New Castle, PA without rent, and 23.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.14 $19.14
8.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.3 $76.3
31.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.83 $10.83
10.53%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.95 $4.95
12.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.51 $2.51
23.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.99 $1.99
21.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.13 $6.13
11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.89 $6.89
22.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.03 $1.03
0.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.47 $3.47
19.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.43 $4.43
24.60%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.33 $4.33
7.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.73 $11.73
22.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.82 $12.82
16.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.31 $15.31
26.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.73 $5.73
-9.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.55 $1.55
10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.24 $4.24
4.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.6 $4.6
-1.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.8 $2.8
-9.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.88 $2.88
-4.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.05 $2.05
18.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.09 $2.09
29.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.36 $9.36
62.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.92 $13.92
17.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.8 $1.8
30.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.38 $3.38
9.47%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.43 $3.43
-2.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.59 $1.59
-10.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.01 $29.01
-12.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.3K $29.3K
10.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.9K $25.9K
1.11%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$184 $184
2.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$52.1 $52.1
22.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$66.5 $66.5
-2.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.64 $43.64
75.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.53 $13.53
10.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,292 $1,292
59.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.9K $23.9K
63.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50.5 $50.5
27.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.12 $40.12
30.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.4 $87.4
8.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$111 $111
29.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,586 $1,586
49.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,370 $1,370
15.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,591 $2,591
83.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,234 $2,234
26.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$3,066 $3,066
17.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,578 $2,578
-3.40%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Castle, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
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 New Castle, PA: October 28, 2025

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