Cost of Living Comparison Between Bridgewater, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Bridgewater, NJ and Chicago, IL

😐 Solo nomad: Bridgewater, NJ is 28% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Bridgewater, NJ is 30.2% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$20.82 $20.82

-4.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.12 $14.12

$11.97 $11.97

17.96%

Cappuccino

$5.46 $5.46

$5.56 $5.56

-1.80%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$3.11 $3.11

-9.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.42 $2.42

-12.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$6.86 $6.86

17.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.1 $8.1

$8.45 $8.45

-4.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.04 $1.04

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$4.66 $4.66

$4.15 $4.15

12.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.5 $6.5

$5.52 $5.52

17.75%

Eggs

$5.58 $5.58

$4.65 $4.65

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.74 $13.74

$14.33 $14.33

-4.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.36 $24.36

$14.88 $14.88

63.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.71 $17.71

$19.34 $19.34

-8.43%

Apples (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

$5.17 $5.17

38.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.6 $2.6

$1.71 $1.71

52.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.41 $4.41

27.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$4.51 $4.51

31.04%

Potato (1kg)

$5.2 $5.2

$2.53 $2.53

105.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.74 $2.74

37.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.43 $2.43

4.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.7 $2.7

11.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.94 $10.94

$15.19 $15.19

-27.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 $19.09

$16.42 $16.42

16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$2.35 $2.35

-28.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.7 $3.7

-1.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.53 $2.53

-22.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$118 $118

$74.1 $74.1

59.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.34 $3.34

-9.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.42 $1.42

11.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.47 $42.47

$25.42 $25.42

67.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-20.99%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.07%

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

$181 $181

$188 $188

-3.88%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$63.7 $63.7

-6.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.9 $54.9

$65.2 $65.2

-15.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$99.8 $99.8

$76.7 $76.7

30.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.04 $49.04

$13.03 $13.03

276.36%

Cinema Ticket

$19.89 $19.89

$14.93 $14.93

33.22%

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

$1,831 $1,831

$2,063 $2,063

-11.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K $14.4K

$39.2K $39.2K

-63.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 $69.7

$64.3 $64.3

8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.2 $58.2

$52.4 $52.4

11.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$95.2 $95.2

17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$145 $145

-9.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$2,378 $2,378

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 $2,119

$1,584 $1,584

33.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,703 $3,703

$4,763 $4,763

-22.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,523 $3,523

$2,815 $2,815

25.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,793 $2,793

$3,588 $3,588

-22.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,557 $2,557

$2,490 $2,490

2.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,578 $6,578

$5,275 $5,275

24.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Bridgewater, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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