Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Haven, CT Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and New Haven, CT

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 39.3% more expensive than New Haven, CT without rent, and 23.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.9% more expensive than New Haven, CT without rent, and 11.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.27 $17.27
20.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$74.2 $74.2
35.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.87 $12.87
-6.99%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.93 $4.93
12.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.46 $2.46
26.42%
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
$7.02 $7.02
-2.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.21 $8.21
2.92%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.8 $3.8
9.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.14 $5.14
7.39%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.85 $4.85
-4.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$9.52 $9.52
50.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.13 $10.13
46.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.4 $17.4
11.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.04 $5.04
2.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.72 $1.72
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.01 $4.01
9.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.2 $4.2
7.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.81 $2.81
-9.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.89 $3.89
-29.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.45 $2.45
-0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.15 $2.15
25.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.21 $12.21
24.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.06 $15.06
9.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.61 $3.61
2.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.58 $1.58
60.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$63.6 $63.6
16.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.93 $2.93
13.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.7 $1.7
-16.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.22 $24.22
4.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.91 $0.91
18.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.1K $30.1K
7.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$124 $124
52.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$43.36 $43.36
46.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$55 $55
18.63%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$26.35 $26.35
191.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.95 $12.95
15.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,417 $1,417
45.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.51%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$37.72 $37.72
70.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$24.2 $24.2
116.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$73.9 $73.9
28.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$71.1 $71.1
103.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,958 $1,958
21.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,320 $1,320
20.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,090 $4,090
16.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,913 $2,913
-3.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,929 $2,929
22.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,864 $2,864
-13.04%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,817 $3,817
38.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.57
0.46%

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 Haven, CT: October 27, 2025

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