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

🙂 Solo nomad: Newark, DE is 24.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Newark, DE is 10.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.06 $16.06
$20.82 $20.82
-22.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9 $60.9
$100 $100
-39.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.92 $6.92
$11.97 $11.97
-42.19%
Cappuccino
$4.8 $4.8
$5.56 $5.56
-13.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.11 $3.11
-30.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.42 $2.42
4.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.27 $3.27
$6.86 $6.86
-52.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 $5.06
$8.45 $8.45
-40.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.04 $1.04
-15.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 $1.97
$4.15 $4.15
-52.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$5.52 $5.52
-38.04%
Eggs
$4.46 $4.46
$4.65 $4.65
-4.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.95 $15.95
$14.33 $14.33
11.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.59 $8.59
$14.88 $14.88
-42.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.31 $15.31
$19.34 $19.34
-20.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.63 $5.63
$5.17 $5.17
8.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.71 $1.71
15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$4.41 $4.41
16.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.51 $4.51
10.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$3.86 $3.86
$2.74 $2.74
40.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.43 $2.43
-23.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 $1.33
$2.7 $2.7
-50.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.47 $12.47
$15.19 $15.19
-17.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.44 $17.44
$16.42 $16.42
6.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$2.35 $2.35
-27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 $4.48
$3.7 $3.7
21.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.53 $2.53
54.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.9 $58.9
$74.1 $74.1
-20.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.34 $3.34
16.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.42 $1.42
-3.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.9 $29.9
$25.42 $25.42
17.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 $0.84
$1.08 $1.08
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K $17.3K
$32.4K $32.4K
-46.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K $20.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-20.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$188 $188
11.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$63.7 $63.7
-18.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.6 $51.6
$65.2 $65.2
-20.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Newark, DE
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
$13.07 $13.07
$14.93 $14.93
-12.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,661 $2,661
$2,063 $2,063
29.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.3K $40.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 $80.8
$64.3 $64.3
25.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.08 $40.08
$52.4 $52.4
-23.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$95.2 $95.2
5.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$145 $145
-0.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,510 $1,510
$2,378 $2,378
-36.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$1,584 $1,584
-18.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 $2,298
$4,763 $4,763
-51.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,987 $1,987
$2,815 $2,815
-29.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,537 $2,537
$3,588 $3,588
-29.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,247 $2,247
$2,490 $2,490
-9.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Newark, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,281 $4,281
$5,275 $5,275
-18.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.48
6.6
-1.82%

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

Last update for Newark, DE: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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