Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Chicago, IL versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Chicago, IL is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 5% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,649
+39% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,391
+11% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,513
+8% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,916
+23% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$357,600
+13% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$71,373
+5% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$54,310
+1% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
22.0 yr
+13.7 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
50.3%
+4.8 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
57.5%
+14.2 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
33.5 min
19.6 min
+13.9 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
326.3
+40% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,024.6
+42% in Chicago, IL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
54.9°F
+2.2°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
43.1 in
+5.1 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.24/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.9
19.3
+3% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.71
$29.73
+51% in Newark, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Newark, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / DE)
6.25%
None
+6.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
6.60%
+1.6 pp in DE

Chicago vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Newark?
Chicago, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Newark?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).