Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,408 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,602 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $4,576 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,796 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $6,143 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Atlantic City, NJ costs roughly 20% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Atlantic City, NJ 81% above, Chicago, IL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.72 $24.72

$20.27 $20.27

21.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 $60.2

$101 $101

-40.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 $12.06

$12.04 $12.04

0.17%

Cappuccino

$5.50 $5.50

$5.76 $5.76

-4.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.97 $2.97

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.38 $2.38

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.10 $7.10

$7.20 $7.20

-1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$8.05 $8.05

9.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.09 $1.09

11.93%

White Bread (500g)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.12 $4.12

-1.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.30 $8.30

$5.29 $5.29

56.90%

Eggs

$6.53 $6.53

$4.56 $4.56

43.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.12 $17.12

$14.45 $14.45

18.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.61 $16.61

$14.79 $14.79

12.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.92 $19.92

$19.56 $19.56

1.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.42 $5.42

-17.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.71 $1.71

42.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$4.18 $4.18

37.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.33 $6.33

$4.59 $4.59

37.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.48 $2.48

54.44%

Onion (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.72 $2.72

51.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.47 $2.47

-17.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.72 $2.72

-24.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.15 $19.15

$14.78 $14.78

29.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

$15.30 $15.30

-3.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.35 $2.35

29.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.74 $3.74

4.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.47 $2.47

-19.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.32 $3.32

47.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.37 $1.37

54.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.92 $41.92

$24.65 $24.65

70.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.05 $1.05

-17.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K $35.0K

$32.4K $32.4K

8.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K $27.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

6.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$184 $184

$186 $186

-0.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.9 $60.9

$62.6 $62.6

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.9 $54.9

$67.5 $67.5

-18.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.35 $42.35

$75.2 $75.2

-43.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$14.63 $14.63

$15.10 $15.10

-3.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,114 $3,114

$2,023 $2,023

53.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.9K $39.9K

-41.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.12 $43.12

$64.2 $64.2

-32.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.63 $40.63

$51.2 $51.2

-20.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.8 $59.8

$96.2 $96.2

-37.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 $74.8

$147 $147

-49.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,381 $1,381

$2,329 $2,329

-40.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$982 $982

$1,570 $1,570

-37.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 $1,992

$4,677 $4,677

-57.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,857 $1,857

$2,810 $2,810

-33.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,567 $3,567

$4,082 $4,082

-12.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,547 $3,547

$2,645 $2,645

34.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,983 $3,983

$4,883 $4,883

-18.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

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

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,381 in Atlantic City, NJ and $2,329 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Atlantic City, NJ vs $101 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $503 vs $450, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Atlantic City, NJ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($2,408 vs $3,009 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Chicago, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,381 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $2,329 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $3,114 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $2,023 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $101 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Atlantic City, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.