Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Rehoboth Beach, DE

For one person, living is cheaper in Rehoboth Beach, DE: $1,218 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Rehoboth Beach, DE
Learn more

Rehoboth Beach, DE Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Rehoboth Beach, DE

🇺🇸 United States

$1,218

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Rehoboth Beach, DE

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 Rehoboth Beach, DE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,218 in Rehoboth Beach, DE, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Rehoboth Beach, DE $1,218

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,039 in Rehoboth Beach, DE, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Rehoboth Beach, DE $2,039

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,860 in Rehoboth Beach, DE, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Rehoboth Beach, DE $2,860

Chicago, IL costs about 149% more than Rehoboth Beach, DE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Chicago, IL sits 123% above the global median, while Rehoboth Beach, DE is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$13.65 $13.65

51.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$90.3 $90.3

-1.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$7.29 $7.29

80.93%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.42 $5.42

4.43%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.82 $2.82

-6.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.96 $1.96

16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.02 $6.02

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.63 $8.63

2.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.59 $1.59

-21.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.46 $4.46

-16.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$7.21 $7.21

-25.24%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$7.72 $7.72

-38.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$16.59 $16.59

-16.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.61 $16.61

-13.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$19.06 $19.06

-3.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.81 $4.81

8.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.64 $1.64

20.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.20 $6.20

-34.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.29 $5.29

-6.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.96 $2.96

-9.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.08 $2.08

27.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.10 $2.10

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.18 $1.18

165.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$13.35 $13.35

3.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$13.23 $13.23

12.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.77 $1.77

43.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.27 $3.27

7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$4.03 $4.03

-39.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$5.11 $5.11

-72.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.93 $0.93

29.03%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

27.38%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

0.08%

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

$194 $194

$147 $147

32.02%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$37.73 $37.73

84.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$71.9 $71.9

-14.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$32.38 $32.38

47.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$12.33 $12.33

44.44%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,251 $2,251

-20.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$59.7K $59.7K

-46.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$47.66 $47.66

40.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$35.87 $35.87

45.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$79.4 $79.4

27.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$119 $119

20.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$7,745 $7,745

-45.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$4,035 $4,035

-31.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.45

5.58%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Rehoboth Beach, DE: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

$473 38.8% 5.7% $26

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

$263 21.6% 23.9% $82

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

$257 21.1% 21.1% $69

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

$127 10.4% 22.6% $37

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

$42 * 3.4% 55.4% $52

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Rehoboth Beach, DE

$57 4.7% 31.7% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $90 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $473 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Rehoboth Beach, DE

🕒 Local time

07:51 7:51 AM

08:51 8:51 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

1,500

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Rehoboth Beach, DE 1,120 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Rehoboth Beach, DE

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 Rehoboth Beach, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $1,218 in Rehoboth Beach, DE – Rehoboth Beach, DE comes out roughly 60% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $1,827 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $2,251 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $1,218 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. That makes Rehoboth Beach, DE about 60% cheaper.

$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $1,218 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. 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 $1,218 in Rehoboth Beach, DE to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.