Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Bergen County, NJ is 6.7% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bergen County, NJ is 8.1% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.21 $20.21
$20.82 $20.82
-2.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.5 $86.5
$100 $100
-13.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.86 $13.86
$11.97 $11.97
15.79%
Cappuccino
$5.17 $5.17
$5.56 $5.56
-7.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$3.11 $3.11
-22.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$2.42 $2.42
-7.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.88 $6.88
$6.86 $6.86
0.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$8.45 $8.45
4.38%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.3 $1.3
$1.04 $1.04
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.52 $4.52
$4.15 $4.15
8.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.93 $8.93
$5.52 $5.52
61.78%
Eggs
$4.8 $4.8
$4.65 $4.65
3.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.84 $16.84
$14.33 $14.33
17.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.71 $11.71
$14.88 $14.88
-21.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.99 $17.99
$19.34 $19.34
-6.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$5.17 $5.17
-6.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.71 $1.71
4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.86 $3.86
$4.41 $4.41
-12.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.06 $4.06
$4.51 $4.51
-9.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.53 $2.53
10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$2.74 $2.74
37.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.43 $2.43
-1.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$2.7 $2.7
-19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.52 $13.52
$15.19 $15.19
-10.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.8 $16.8
$16.42 $16.42
2.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.35 $2.35
-28.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.5 $3.5
$3.7 $3.7
-5.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.53 $2.53
70.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$169 $169
$74.1 $74.1
128.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.34 $3.34
-8.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.42 $1.42
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.99 $23.99
$25.42 $25.42
-5.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.08 $1.08
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-8.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 $129
$188 $188
-31.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.21 $45.21
$63.7 $63.7
-29.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$65.2 $65.2
-2.09%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.28 $43.28
$76.7 $76.7
-43.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.34 $17.34
$14.93 $14.93
16.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,232 $2,232
$2,063 $2,063
8.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K $24K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.84%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.6 $74.6
$64.3 $64.3
15.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.91 $23.91
$52.4 $52.4
-54.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$95.2 $95.2
-6.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$145 $145
-19.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,732 $2,732
$2,378 $2,378
14.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,693 $2,693
$1,584 $1,584
69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,548 $4,548
$4,763 $4,763
-4.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,003 $3,003
$2,815 $2,815
6.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,971 $3,971
$3,588 $3,588
10.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,714 $3,714
$2,490 $2,490
49.15%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Bergen County, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,523 $5,523
$5,275 $5,275
4.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.6
-0.45%

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

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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