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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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WilmingtonvsChicago

Moving from Wilmington to Chicago will cost approximately $103,814 more on median home prices (24.6% higher). Monthly rent is $433 more expensive in Chicago. Note that median income is 9.9% lower in Chicago.

Housing
24.6% more
Rent
24.6% more
View WilmingtonView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Wilmington, DE

Median Home Price$421,460
Monthly Rent$1,756
Median Income$81,199
Population71,957
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274+24.6%
Monthly Rent
$2,189+24.6%
Median Income
$73,194-9.9%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Wilmington

2015$1,063
2020$1,251
2025$1,756

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

Wilmington

Housing$10,803
Food$6,366
Transport$12,456
Healthcare$11,379
Total$45,773

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

24.6%
Housing Cost
more expensive in Chicago
$433
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
9.9%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Wilmington

Population71,957
Median Age36.4 yrs
Violent Crime Rate419 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1881 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Wilmington

419
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1881
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Wilmington?

Wilmington is 24.6% cheaper for housing than Chicago. The median home price in Wilmington is $421,460 compared to $525,274 in Chicago.

What is the rent difference between Wilmington and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Wilmington averages $1,756. That's a difference of $433 per month, or $5,191 annually.

How do incomes compare between Wilmington and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 9.9% lower than Wilmington's median of $81,199.

Which city is safer: Wilmington or Chicago?

Wilmington has a violent crime rate of 419 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Chicago is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.