🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,346 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,592 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $4,593 in Chicago, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,838 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $6,177 in Chicago, IL.
🙂Living in Atlantic City, NJ costs roughly 22% less than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Atlantic City, NJ75% above, Chicago, IL125% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.34$25.34
$20.35$20.35
24.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.4$60.4
$102$102
-40.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.03$12.03
$11.98$11.98
0.42%
Cappuccino
$5.35$5.35
$5.70$5.70
-6.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$3.00$3.00
-7.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52$2.52
$2.46$2.46
2.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20$7.20
$6.87$6.87
4.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.95$8.95
$8.09$8.09
10.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18$1.18
$1.03$1.03
14.56%
White Bread(500g)
$4.03$4.03
$3.95$3.95
2.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$8.37$8.37
$5.42$5.42
54.43%
Eggs
$6.23$6.23
$4.50$4.50
38.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.54$17.54
$14.53$14.53
20.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.57$16.57
$14.89$14.89
11.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.35$20.35
$18.98$18.98
7.22%
Apples(1kg)
$4.44$4.44
$5.39$5.39
-17.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44$2.44
$1.77$1.77
37.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.79$5.79
$4.35$4.35
33.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.29$6.29
$4.53$4.53
38.85%
Potato(1kg)
$3.80$3.80
$2.53$2.53
50.20%
Onion(1kg)
$4.04$4.04
$2.81$2.81
43.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94$1.94
$2.51$2.51
-22.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$2.67$2.67
-23.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.23$19.23
$14.88$14.88
29.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.48$13.48
$15.22$15.22
-11.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91$2.91
$2.46$2.46
18.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73$3.73
$3.53$3.53
5.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$2.56$2.56
-22.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$74.3$74.3
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.91$4.91
$3.19$3.19
53.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12$2.12
$1.41$1.41
50.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.80$41.80
$25.49$25.49
63.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.04$1.04
-21.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K$34.3K
$32.2K$32.2K
6.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K$28.5K
$26.8K$26.8K
6.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183$183
$184$184
-0.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8$59.8
$63.1$63.1
-5.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4$54.4
$66.4$66.4
-18.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.23$42.23
$75.9$75.9
-44.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.06$13.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.66$14.66
$15.25$15.25
-3.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,201$3,201
$2,090$2,090
53.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$39.2K$39.2K
-40.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.89$41.89
$64.2$64.2
-34.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.74$40.74
$51.0$51.0
-20.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.8$59.8
$97.2$97.2
-38.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3$74.3
$149$149
-49.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,385$1,385
$2,341$2,341
-40.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,017$1,017
$1,572$1,572
-35.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,982$1,982
$4,741$4,741
-58.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,822$1,822
$2,819$2,819
-35.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,629$3,629
$3,900$3,900
-6.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,629$3,629
$2,638$2,638
37.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atlantic City, NJ
Chicago, IL
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,834$4,834
$4,769$4,769
1.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Atlantic City, NJ: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,385 in Atlantic City, NJ and $2,341 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Atlantic City, NJ pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Atlantic City, NJ vs $102 in Chicago, IL. Groceries flip the comparison at $499 vs $447, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Atlantic City, NJ vs Chicago, IL: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL?
Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,346 vs $3,009 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Atlantic City, NJ or Chicago, IL?
Atlantic City, NJ pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,385 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $2,341 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL?
Childcare runs $3,201 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $2,090 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $102 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,346 in Atlantic City, NJ versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Atlantic City, NJ but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Atlantic City, NJ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Atlantic City, NJ and Chicago, IL?
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.
Where should expats move: Atlantic City, NJ or Chicago, IL?
Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Atlantic City, NJ vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado