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

🙂 Solo nomad: Milton, DE is 7.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Milton, DE is 12.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.25 $19.25
$20.82 $20.82
-7.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 $74.8
$100 $100
-25.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 $11.03
$11.97 $11.97
-7.85%
Cappuccino
$5.03 $5.03
$5.56 $5.56
-9.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.11 $3.11
-18.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.42 $2.42
-19.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.86 $6.86
-10.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.08 $7.08
$8.45 $8.45
-16.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.15 $4.15
-17.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$5.52 $5.52
-21.92%
Eggs
$4.13 $4.13
$4.65 $4.65
-11.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.29 $12.29
$14.33 $14.33
-14.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.3 $11.3
$14.88 $14.88
-24.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.33 $15.33
$19.34 $19.34
-20.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$5.17 $5.17
-3.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.71 $1.71
-8.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$4.41 $4.41
-6.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.61 $4.61
$4.51 $4.51
2.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.53 $2.53
15.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.74 $2.74
1.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.43 $2.43
-16.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.7 $2.7
-19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.8 $9.8
$15.19 $15.19
-35.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 $13.79
$16.42 $16.42
-16.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.35 $2.35
-24.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.7 $3.7
-8.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.6 $59.6
$74.1 $74.1
-19.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.6 $3.6
$3.34 $3.34
7.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.42 $1.42
16.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.93 $28.93
$25.42 $25.42
13.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.8 $51.8
$63.7 $63.7
-18.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$65.2 $65.2
5.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.18 $42.18
$76.7 $76.7
-45.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.62 $39.62
$13.03 $13.03
204.07%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65 $13.65
$14.93 $14.93
-8.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,273 $1,273
$2,063 $2,063
-38.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 $50.3
$64.3 $64.3
-21.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.78 $40.78
$52.4 $52.4
-22.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 $88.1
$95.2 $95.2
-7.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$145 $145
-24.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,624 $1,624
$2,378 $2,378
-31.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$1,584 $1,584
-14.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,680 $2,680
$4,763 $4,763
-43.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 $2,191
$2,815 $2,815
-22.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,721 $2,721
$3,588 $3,588
-24.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,474 $2,474
$2,490 $2,490
-0.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Milton, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,970 $3,970
$5,275 $5,275
-24.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Milton, DE: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.