Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New Haven, CT and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: New Haven, CT is 28.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.9% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: New Haven, CT is 10.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27 $17.27
$20.82 $20.82
-17.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$100 $100
-26.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.87 $12.87
$11.97 $11.97
7.52%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$5.56 $5.56
-11.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.11 $3.11
-20.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.42 $2.42
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.02 $7.02
$6.86 $6.86
2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.21 $8.21
$8.45 $8.45
-2.84%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
White Bread (500g)
$3.8 $3.8
$4.15 $4.15
-8.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$5.52 $5.52
-6.88%
Eggs
$4.85 $4.85
$4.65 $4.65
4.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.52 $9.52
$14.33 $14.33
-33.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 $10.13
$14.88 $14.88
-31.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.4 $17.4
$19.34 $19.34
-10.03%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$5.17 $5.17
-2.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.71 $1.71
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.01 $4.01
$4.41 $4.41
-9.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.2 $4.2
$4.51 $4.51
-6.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.53 $2.53
11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$2.74 $2.74
41.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.43 $2.43
0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.7 $2.7
-20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.21 $12.21
$15.19 $15.19
-19.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 $15.06
$16.42 $16.42
-8.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 $3.61
$3.7 $3.7
-2.43%
🚌 Getting Around
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.53 $2.53
-37.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.6 $63.6
$74.1 $74.1
-14.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.42 $1.42
19.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.22 $24.22
$25.42 $25.42
-4.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 $124
$188 $188
-34.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.36 $43.36
$63.7 $63.7
-31.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55 $55
$65.2 $65.2
-15.71%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.35 $26.35
$76.7 $76.7
-65.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.95 $12.95
$14.93 $14.93
-13.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,417 $1,417
$2,063 $2,063
-31.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.58%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.72 $37.72
$64.3 $64.3
-41.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.2 $24.2
$52.4 $52.4
-53.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 $73.9
$95.2 $95.2
-22.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 $71.1
$145 $145
-50.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,958 $1,958
$2,378 $2,378
-17.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,320 $1,320
$1,584 $1,584
-16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,090 $4,090
$4,763 $4,763
-14.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,913 $2,913
$2,815 $2,815
3.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,929 $2,929
$3,588 $3,588
-18.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,864 $2,864
$2,490 $2,490
14.99%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
New Haven, CT
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,817 $3,817
$5,275 $5,275
-27.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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

Last update for New Haven, CT: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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