Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Wilmington, DE

For one person, living is cheaper in Wilmington, DE: $2,557 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
122

Cost of Living Index in Wilmington, DE
Learn more

Wilmington, DE Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Wilmington, DE

🇺🇸 United States

$2,557

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, DE actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,557 in Wilmington, DE, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Wilmington, DE $2,557

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,433 in Wilmington, DE, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Wilmington, DE $3,433

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,309 in Wilmington, DE, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Wilmington, DE $4,309

Chicago, IL costs about 20% more than Wilmington, DE, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Wilmington, DE sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Wilmington, DE by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.04 $20.04

1.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$74.8 $74.8

18.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$10.30 $10.30

24.76%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.95 $4.95

16.77%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 $2.19

25.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.31 $1.31

72.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$4.05 $4.05

69.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$6.13 $6.13

50.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.13 $1.13

11.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.06 $3.06

16.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$2.76 $2.76

94.93%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$3.08 $3.08

47.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$9.32 $9.32

46.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$8.50 $8.50

65.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$14.58 $14.58

23.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.63 $4.63

11.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.32 $1.32

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.44 $4.44

-12.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$3.83 $3.83

26.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.54 $2.54

10.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.46 $2.46

8.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.04 $2.04

1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$0.98 $0.98

209.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.92 $9.92

40.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$12.96 $12.96

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.42 $2.42

8.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.70 $3.70

-6.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$60.2 $60.2

25.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.89 $3.89

-18.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$27.47 $27.47

-9.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.06 $1.06

20.75%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.3K $27.3K

31.19%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

4.56%

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

$192 $192

$270 $270

-28.86%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$50.7 $50.7

37.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$59.8 $59.8

3.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$24.69 $24.69

93.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$15.19 $15.19

78.41%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$11.87 $11.87

50.21%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,605 $1,605

13.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

57.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$36.92 $36.92

79.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$47.59 $47.59

7.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$84.1 $84.1

22.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$90.8 $90.8

57.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,729 $1,729

46.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,308 $1,308

23.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,728 $2,728

76.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,613 $1,613

69.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,215 $2,215

87.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,081 $2,081

30.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,946 $3,946

24.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.3

7.62%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Wilmington, DE: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Wilmington, DE

$1.3K 51.2% 19.3% $313

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Wilmington, DE

$325 12.7% 25.9% $114

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Wilmington, DE

$297 11.6% 13.6% $47

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Wilmington, DE

$380 14.9% 17.5% $57

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Wilmington, DE

$117 4.6% 28.7% $47

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Wilmington, DE

$80 3.1% 17% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Wilmington, DE

$48 1.9% 42% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,729 in Wilmington, DE. 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 25% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Wilmington, DE. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $325 – making Wilmington, DE the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Wilmington, DE

🕒 Local time

09:35 9:35 AM

10:35 10:35 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

72,826

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Wilmington, DE 1,040 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,557 in Wilmington, DE – Wilmington, DE comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,835 in Wilmington, DE. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Wilmington, DE, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,729 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Wilmington, DE. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,557 in Wilmington, 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 $2,557 in Wilmington, DE to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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