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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,450 in New Haven, CT, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,934 in New Haven, CT, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,418 in New Haven, CT, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 25% more than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chicago, IL and New Haven, CT sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, New Haven, CT by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$16.72 $16.72

20.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$76.1 $76.1

30.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$12.82 $12.82

-4.60%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.97 $4.97

12.68%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.48 $2.48

25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.89 $1.89

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$7.18 $7.18

-3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$8.02 $8.02

2.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.13 $1.13

-4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.67 $3.67

8.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.32 $5.32

4.89%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$4.71 $4.71

-5.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$9.52 $9.52

52.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.42 $10.42

44.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.35 $17.35

11.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.87 $4.87

10.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.77 $1.77

-0.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.92 $3.92

10.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.09 $4.09

7.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.83 $2.83

-10.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.98 $3.98

-32.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.46 $2.46

1.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.22 $2.22

17.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.14 $12.14

21.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$15.85 $15.85

-4.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.74 $1.74

41.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.55 $3.55

1.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.60 $1.60

58.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$63.4 $63.4

20.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.97 $2.97

11.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.78 $1.78

-22.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$24.42 $24.42

3.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.86 $0.86

26.74%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$29.9K $29.9K

5.81%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.5K $25.5K

4.32%

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

$186 $186

$125 $125

49.30%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$43.96 $43.96

42.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$54.9 $54.9

20.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$25.91 $25.91

199.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.84 $12.84

14.80%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,388 $1,388

46.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

67.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$36.98 $36.98

72.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$23.54 $23.54

117.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$74.9 $74.9

27.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$68.7 $68.7

109.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,957 $1,957

17.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,344 $1,344

17.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,961 $3,961

18.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,917 $2,917

-6.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,872 $2,872

41.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,796 $2,796

-3.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,950 $3,950

27.08%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for New Haven, CT: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,957 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 27% 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 $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $76.0 in New Haven, CT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $392 – making New Haven, CT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $3,068 in Chicago, IL, $2,450 in New Haven, CT – roughly 25% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,675 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 14% 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 $99.0 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 $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,450 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 $2,450 in New Haven, CT to $3,068 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.