Cost of Living Comparison Between New Castle, DE and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New Castle, DE and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: New Castle, DE is 15.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: New Castle, DE is 16.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.61 $19.61
$20.82 $20.82
-5.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$100 $100
-19.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.99 $14.99
$11.97 $11.97
25.23%
Cappuccino
$5.17 $5.17
$5.56 $5.56
-7.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.11 $3.11
-20.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.42 $2.42
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.03 $8.03
$6.86 $6.86
17.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$8.45 $8.45
-4.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.04 $1.04
-26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.1 $4.1
$4.15 $4.15
-1.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$9.28 $9.28
$5.52 $5.52
68.12%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.65 $4.65
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.12 $12.12
$14.33 $14.33
-15.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.39 $11.39
$14.88 $14.88
-23.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 $15.29
$19.34 $19.34
-20.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$5.17 $5.17
-44.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.71 $1.71
50.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$4.41 $4.41
-49.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.8 $1.8
$4.51 $4.51
-60.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.53 $2.53
-33.60%
Onion (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$2.74 $2.74
35.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.43 $2.43
7.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.7 $2.7
8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.87 $10.87
$15.19 $15.19
-28.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.09 $15.09
$16.42 $16.42
-8.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.35 $6.35
$3.7 $3.7
71.62%
🚌 Getting Around
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.15 $6.15
$3.34 $3.34
84.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.42 $1.42
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.48 $41.48
$25.42 $25.42
63.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 $177
$188 $188
-6.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1 $51.1
$63.7 $63.7
-19.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 $54.7
$65.2 $65.2
-16.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.72 $42.72
$76.7 $76.7
-44.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.94 $9.94
$14.93 $14.93
-33.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,894 $1,894
$2,063 $2,063
-8.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.7K $40.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
3.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.83 $29.83
$64.3 $64.3
-53.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54 $54
$52.4 $52.4
2.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.63 $49.63
$95.2 $95.2
-47.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2 $98.2
$145 $145
-32.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$2,378 $2,378
-31.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 $1,330
$1,584 $1,584
-16.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,635 $2,635
$4,763 $4,763
-44.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,240 $2,240
$2,815 $2,815
-20.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,461 $2,461
$3,588 $3,588
-31.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,081 $2,081
$2,490 $2,490
-16.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Castle, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,544 $2,544
$5,275 $5,275
-51.78%
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 New Castle, DE: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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