Darlington, IN vs New Chicago, IN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Darlington is 17.2% cheaper than New Chicago. With a cost index of 65 vs 79, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Darlington to New Chicago should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Darlington is $732/month compared to $1,090/month in New Chicago — a 33% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Darlington has cheaper rent, New Chicago actually has lower median home values ($118,900 vs $119,700).

Median household income in Darlington is $53,417 compared to $54,700 in New Chicago (-2.3%). New Chicago does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Darlington spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 23.9% in New Chicago.