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

🙂 Solo nomad: Dover, DE is 9.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Dover, DE is 12.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.8 $12.8
$20.82 $20.82
-38.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8 $58.8
$100 $100
-41.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 $10.66
$11.97 $11.97
-10.94%
Cappuccino
$5.1 $5.1
$5.56 $5.56
-8.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$3.11 $3.11
-29.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.42 $2.42
-4.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.08 $5.08
$6.86 $6.86
-25.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$8.45 $8.45
-7.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.04 $1.04
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 $2.18
$4.15 $4.15
-47.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$5.52 $5.52
-7.25%
Eggs
$4.2 $4.2
$4.65 $4.65
-9.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 $12.07
$14.33 $14.33
-15.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 $11.54
$14.88 $14.88
-22.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.47 $25.47
$19.34 $19.34
31.70%
Apples (1kg)
$6.62 $6.62
$5.17 $5.17
28.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.71 $1.71
-36.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$4.41 $4.41
24.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.69 $5.69
$4.51 $4.51
26.16%
Potato (1kg)
$4.12 $4.12
$2.53 $2.53
62.85%
Onion (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$2.74 $2.74
17.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.43 $2.43
-28.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.7 $2.7
-11.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.47 $8.47
$15.19 $15.19
-44.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.72 $16.72
$16.42 $16.42
1.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.35 $2.35
-20.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 $3.37
$3.7 $3.7
-8.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.81 $2.81
$3.34 $3.34
-15.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.42 $1.42
-2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.85 $24.85
$25.42 $25.42
-2.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.08 $1.08
-24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-5.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25K $25K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 $125
$188 $188
-33.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.44 $43.44
$63.7 $63.7
-31.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71 $71
$65.2 $65.2
8.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.11 $43.11
$76.7 $76.7
-43.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.74 $14.74
$14.93 $14.93
-1.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$714 $714
$2,063 $2,063
-65.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K $21.6K
$39.2K $39.2K
-44.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$64.3 $64.3
-11.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6 $52.6
$52.4 $52.4
0.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 $94.2
$95.2 $95.2
-1.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$145 $145
-17.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,803 $1,803
$2,378 $2,378
-24.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,298 $1,298
$1,584 $1,584
-18.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,511 $2,511
$4,763 $4,763
-47.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,152 $2,152
$2,815 $2,815
-23.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,019 $2,019
$3,588 $3,588
-43.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,026 $2,026
$2,490 $2,490
-18.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dover, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,533 $7,533
$5,275 $5,275
42.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Dover, DE: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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