Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in New Haven, CT: $2,467 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
120

Cost of Living Index in New Haven, CT
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New Haven, CT Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

New Haven, CT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,467

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in New Haven, CT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in New Haven, CT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,467 in New Haven, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
New Haven, CT $2,467

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,066 in New Haven, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
New Haven, CT $4,066

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,665 in New Haven, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
New Haven, CT $5,665

Chicago, IL costs about 27% more than New Haven, CT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and New Haven, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, New Haven, CT by 82%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$19.82 $19.82

4.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$75.9 $75.9

18.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.98 $12.98

-0.31%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.10 $5.10

9.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.13 $2.13

23.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.58 $1.58

43.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.91 $5.91

18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.89 $7.89

11.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.05 $1.05

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.39 $4.39

-13.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$7.39 $7.39

-28.28%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$5.81 $5.81

-18.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$10.68 $10.68

30.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$10.49 $10.49

39.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.09 $17.09

9.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.34 $5.34

-2.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.72 $1.72

15.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$3.34 $3.34

17.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.05 $3.05

62.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.15 $2.15

28.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.45 $2.45

12.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.72 $2.72

-18.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.84 $2.84

4.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.87 $11.87

18.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$17.13 $17.13

-10.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.74 $1.74

48.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.79 $2.79

25.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.73 $1.73

42.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$63.0 $63.0

18.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.93 $2.93

13.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.02 $2.02

-29.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$24.21 $24.21

0.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.09 $1.09

15.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

27.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$193 $193

$176 $176

9.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$68.3 $68.3

$36.44 $36.44

87.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$57.6 $57.6

6.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$31.68 $31.68

70.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$12.68 $12.68

39.91%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,652 $1,652

$2,177 $2,177

-24.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

28.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$38.10 $38.10

73.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$16.58 $16.58

209.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$76.6 $76.6

30.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$159 $159

-11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$1,844 $1,844

32.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,195 $1,195

40.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$4,141 $4,141

13.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,825 $2,825

-1.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,021 $3,021

35.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,657 $2,657

-0.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$4,102 $4,102

18.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.51

4.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for New Haven, CT: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

New Haven, CT

$1.2K 48.4% 28.8% $483

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

New Haven, CT

$413 16.8% 8% $36

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

New Haven, CT

$319 12.9% 7.2% $25

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

New Haven, CT

$270 10.9% 16.3% $52

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

New Haven, CT

$131 5.3% 19% $31

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

New Haven, CT

$83 3.4% 12.9% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

New Haven, CT

$57 2.3% 36.3% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $1,844 in New Haven, CT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in New Haven, CT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $413 – making New Haven, CT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 New Haven, CT

🕒 Local time

02:18 2:18 AM

03:18 3:18 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

124,001

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL New Haven, CT 1,220 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
New Haven, CT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 New Haven, CT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,467 in New Haven, CT – roughly 27% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,701 in New Haven, CT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in New Haven, CT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $76.0 in New Haven, CT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $2,467 in New Haven, CT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,467 in New Haven, CT to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with New Haven, CT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.