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 30.9% more expensive than New Haven, CT without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 42.2% more expensive than New Haven, CT without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.53 $20.53
$16.97 $16.97
20.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$74.6 $74.6
36.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$13.23 $13.23
-9.07%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$4.99 $4.99
12.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.44 $2.44
25.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.89 $1.89
28.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$6.90 $6.90
1.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.10 $8.10
$7.89 $7.89
2.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.14 $1.14
-5.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$3.80 $3.80
3.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.19 $5.19
6.36%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.85 $4.85
-6.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 $14.58
$9.93 $9.93
46.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.91 $14.91
$10.19 $10.19
46.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
$16.92 $16.92
11.29%
Apples (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$4.92 $4.92
8.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.78 $1.78
-1.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$3.89 $3.89
12.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.14 $4.14
5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.81 $2.81
-9.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.77 $3.77
-26.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.37 $2.37
3.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.24 $2.24
18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.74 $14.74
$12.04 $12.04
22.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$16.25 $16.25
-6.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.77 $1.77
38.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.53 $3.53
4.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.64 $1.64
53.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.5 $74.5
$63.0 $63.0
18.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.04 $3.04
8.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.78 $1.78
-19.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.86 $24.86
$24.12 $24.12
3.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$0.86 $0.86
26.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$29.1K $29.1K
7.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$25.2K $25.2K
6.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 $187
$123 $123
51.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$43.79 $43.79
42.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$56.4 $56.4
18.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.2 $75.2
$26.50 $26.50
183.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.17 $13.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$12.68 $12.68
19.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,039 $2,039
$1,395 $1,395
46.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.3K $39.3K
$23.4K $23.4K
68.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0 $64.0
$36.73 $36.73
74.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 $50.6
$23.89 $23.89
111.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 $95.4
$76.3 $76.3
25.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$71.2 $71.2
101.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,355 $2,355
$2,026 $2,026
16.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,613 $1,613
$1,317 $1,317
22.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,728 $4,728
$4,024 $4,024
17.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$2,894 $2,894
-4.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,803 $3,803
$2,825 $2,825
34.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,580 $2,580
$2,874 $2,874
-10.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,738 $4,738
$3,832 $3,832
23.64%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for New Haven, CT: April 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities