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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: New Castle, PA is 23.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: New Castle, PA is 12.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.14 $19.14
$20.82 $20.82
-8.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.3 $76.3
$100 $100
-23.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 $10.83
$11.97 $11.97
-9.52%
Cappuccino
$4.95 $4.95
$5.56 $5.56
-10.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$3.11 $3.11
-19.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.42 $2.42
-17.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 $6.13
$6.86 $6.86
-10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 $6.89
$8.45 $8.45
-18.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.04 $1.04
-0.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.47 $3.47
$4.15 $4.15
-16.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$5.52 $5.52
-19.75%
Eggs
$4.33 $4.33
$4.65 $4.65
-6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.73 $11.73
$14.33 $14.33
-18.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.82 $12.82
$14.88 $14.88
-13.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.31 $15.31
$19.34 $19.34
-20.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$5.17 $5.17
10.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.71 $1.71
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.24 $4.24
$4.41 $4.41
-3.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$4.51 $4.51
2.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 $2.88
$2.74 $2.74
5.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.43 $2.43
-15.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.7 $2.7
-22.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.36 $9.36
$15.19 $15.19
-38.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.92 $13.92
$16.42 $16.42
-15.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 $1.8
$2.35 $2.35
-23.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$3.7 $3.7
-8.65%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.53 $2.53
-18.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.34 $3.34
2.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.01 $29.01
$25.42 $25.42
14.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.2K $26.2K
-1.10%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$188 $188
-2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$63.7 $63.7
-18.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$65.2 $65.2
2.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.64 $43.64
$76.7 $76.7
-43.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.53 $13.53
$14.93 $14.93
-9.38%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,292 $1,292
$2,063 $2,063
-37.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.95%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 $50.5
$64.3 $64.3
-21.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12 $40.12
$52.4 $52.4
-23.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 $87.4
$95.2 $95.2
-8.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$145 $145
-23.03%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,586 $1,586
$2,378 $2,378
-33.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 $1,370
$1,584 $1,584
-13.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,591 $2,591
$4,763 $4,763
-45.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,234 $2,234
$2,815 $2,815
-20.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,066 $3,066
$3,588 $3,588
-14.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,578 $2,578
$2,490 $2,490
3.51%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New Castle, PA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New Castle, PA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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