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

🙂 Solo nomad: Wilmington, DE is 6.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Wilmington, DE is 28.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.12 $17.12
$20.82 $20.82
-17.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85 $85
$100 $100
-15.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.95 $10.95
$11.97 $11.97
-8.52%
Cappuccino
$3.82 $3.82
$5.56 $5.56
-31.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$3.11 $3.11
-19.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 $1.35
$2.42 $2.42
-44.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.38 $4.38
$6.86 $6.86
-36.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.83 $6.83
$8.45 $8.45
-19.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.04 $1.04
8.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 $3.66
$4.15 $4.15
-11.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.4 $5.4
$5.52 $5.52
-2.17%
Eggs
$3.11 $3.11
$4.65 $4.65
-33.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.64 $15.64
$14.33 $14.33
9.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.29 $12.29
$14.88 $14.88
-17.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.68 $16.68
$19.34 $19.34
-13.75%
Apples (1kg)
$6.13 $6.13
$5.17 $5.17
18.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.71 $1.71
1.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$4.41 $4.41
16.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$4.51 $4.51
-14.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.53 $2.53
40.32%
Onion (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.74 $2.74
18.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.43 $2.43
2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.7 $2.7
-44.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.86 $9.86
$15.19 $15.19
-35.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.28 $12.28
$16.42 $16.42
-25.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.35 $2.35
11.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$3.7 $3.7
25.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.53 $2.53
-33.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.4 $60.4
$74.1 $74.1
-18.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.34 $3.34
17.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.42 $1.42
-0.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.13 $30.13
$25.42 $25.42
18.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.08 $1.08
-26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$188 $188
11.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.2 $55.2
$63.7 $63.7
-13.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$65.2 $65.2
5.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.74 $33.74
$76.7 $76.7
-56.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.06 $15.06
$13.03 $13.03
15.58%
Cinema Ticket
$11.87 $11.87
$14.93 $14.93
-20.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,629 $1,629
$2,063 $2,063
-21.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$40.3K $40.3K
$39.2K $39.2K
2.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.61 $37.61
$64.3 $64.3
-41.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.83 $47.83
$52.4 $52.4
-8.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 $83.3
$95.2 $95.2
-12.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 $91.3
$145 $145
-36.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$2,378 $2,378
-17.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,665 $1,665
$1,584 $1,584
5.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,229 $3,229
$4,763 $4,763
-32.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,262 $2,262
$2,815 $2,815
-19.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,797 $2,797
$3,588 $3,588
-22.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,357 $2,357
$2,490 $2,490
-5.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wilmington, DE
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,788 $3,788
$5,275 $5,275
-28.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Wilmington, DE: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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