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

🙂 Solo nomad: Camden, NJ is 1.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Camden, NJ is 14.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.84 $19.84
$20.82 $20.82
-4.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90 $90
$100 $100
-10.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.2 $12.2
$11.97 $11.97
1.92%
Cappuccino
$4.8 $4.8
$5.56 $5.56
-13.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$3.11 $3.11
-14.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.42 $2.42
-20.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.04 $6.04
$6.86 $6.86
-11.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92 $6.92
$8.45 $8.45
-18.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.04 $1.04
31.73%
White Bread (500g)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.15 $4.15
0.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.38 $8.38
$5.52 $5.52
51.81%
Eggs
$4.54 $4.54
$4.65 $4.65
-2.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.04 $15.04
$14.33 $14.33
4.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.61 $16.61
$14.88 $14.88
11.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.55 $20.55
$19.34 $19.34
6.26%
Apples (1kg)
$6.03 $6.03
$5.17 $5.17
16.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.71 $1.71
24.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.81 $5.81
$4.41 $4.41
31.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$4.51 $4.51
20.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.53 $2.53
47.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.74 $2.74
2.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.43 $2.43
25.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.7 $2.7
-6.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.63 $12.63
$15.19 $15.19
-16.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.06 $15.06
$16.42 $16.42
-8.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.35 $2.35
-12.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.7 $3.7
15.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.53 $2.53
-7.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.5 $59.5
$74.1 $74.1
-19.76%
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)
$22.24 $22.24
$25.42 $25.42
-12.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31K $31K
$32.4K $32.4K
-4.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
-2.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$269 $269
$188 $188
42.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.9 $60.9
$63.7 $63.7
-4.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.8 $75.8
$65.2 $65.2
16.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.7 $43.7
$76.7 $76.7
-43.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.97 $14.97
$14.93 $14.93
0.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,093 $2,093
$2,063 $2,063
1.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K $23.7K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57 $57
$64.3 $64.3
-11.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.68 $42.68
$52.4 $52.4
-18.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.5 $93.5
$95.2 $95.2
-1.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$145 $145
0.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 $1,574
$2,378 $2,378
-33.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,334 $1,334
$1,584 $1,584
-15.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$4,763 $4,763
-44.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,247 $2,247
$2,815 $2,815
-20.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 $2,826
$3,588 $3,588
-21.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,405 $2,405
$2,490 $2,490
-3.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Camden, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,090 $3,090
$5,275 $5,275
-41.42%
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 Camden, NJ: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.