Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cherry Hill, NJ and Chicago, IL

For one person, living costs are similar in Cherry Hill, NJ and in Chicago, IL: $3,197 and $3,139 a month, rent and utilities included.

Cherry Hill, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,197
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cherry Hill, NJ and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cherry Hill, NJ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,197 per month in Cherry Hill, NJ vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Cherry Hill, NJ $3,197
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,774 per month in Cherry Hill, NJ vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Cherry Hill, NJ $4,774
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $6,350 per month in Cherry Hill, NJ vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Cherry Hill, NJ $6,350
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Cherry Hill, NJ costs about 2% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Cherry Hill, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Cherry Hill, NJ by 136%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.79 $21.79
$20.65 $20.65
5.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0 $79.0
$90.2 $90.2
-12.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.13 $12.13
$12.94 $12.94
-6.26%
Cappuccino
$5.27 $5.27
$5.60 $5.60
-5.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.64 $2.64
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.27 $2.27
1.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$6.98 $6.98
-12.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.95 $7.95
$8.83 $8.83
-9.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.27 $1.27
14.17%
White Bread (500g)
$4.55 $4.55
$3.80 $3.80
19.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.96 $6.96
$5.30 $5.30
31.32%
Eggs
$6.44 $6.44
$4.76 $4.76
35.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.28 $12.28
$13.96 $13.96
-12.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.53 $14.53
$14.61 $14.61
-0.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.42 $17.42
$18.77 $18.77
-7.19%
Apples (1kg)
$5.46 $5.46
$5.19 $5.19
5.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.98 $1.98
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.29 $5.29
$3.93 $3.93
34.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.96 $4.96
4.23%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.76 $2.76
29.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.91 $3.91
$2.76 $2.76
41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.22 $2.22
17.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.98 $2.98
-14.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.09 $12.09
$14.02 $14.02
-13.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.26 $18.26
$15.28 $15.28
19.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$2.58 $2.58
-10.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.50 $3.50
22.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.87 $5.87
$2.47 $2.47
137.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$180 $180
$74.8 $74.8
140.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.34 $3.34
-20.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.43 $1.43
10.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.32 $24.32
$24.32 $24.32
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.26 $1.26
-8.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K $30.6K
$35.0K $35.0K
-12.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.1K $26.1K
-1.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$193 $193
11.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.6 $61.6
$68.3 $68.3
-9.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.7 $65.7
$61.3 $61.3
7.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 $52.7
$54.1 $54.1
-2.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.23 $15.23
$17.74 $17.74
-14.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,226 $2,226
$1,652 $1,652
34.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$35.0K $35.0K
$31.1K $31.1K
12.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.87 $48.87
$66.1 $66.1
-26.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 $47.02
$51.2 $51.2
-8.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$100 $100
1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$141 $141
-13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,055 $2,055
$2,446 $2,446
-16.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 $1,598
$1,678 $1,678
-4.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,310 $3,310
$4,717 $4,717
-29.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,850 $2,850
$2,795 $2,795
1.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,105 $4,105
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,650 $2,650
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cherry Hill, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,038 $5,038
$4,866 $4,866
3.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.81
-2.79%

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

Last update for Cherry Hill, NJ: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cherry Hill, NJ
$1.6K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 5% $80
Groceries & Markets
Cherry Hill, NJ
$475
Chicago, IL
$449 5.4% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cherry Hill, NJ
$342
Chicago, IL
$322 5.7% $20
Eating Out
Cherry Hill, NJ
$342
Chicago, IL
$343 0.6% $1.9
Getting Around
Cherry Hill, NJ
$214
Chicago, IL
$95 55.5% $119
Clothing & Footwear
Cherry Hill, NJ
$144
Chicago, IL
$161 12.1% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Cherry Hill, NJ
$83
Chicago, IL
$90 7.7% $6.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,055 in Cherry Hill, NJ versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Cherry Hill, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Cherry Hill, NJ versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $475 in Cherry Hill, NJ vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cherry Hill, NJ
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
06:50 6:50 AM
05:50 5:50 AM
1 h behind Cherry Hill, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
71,586
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cherry Hill, NJ Chicago, IL 1,080 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cherry Hill, NJ
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cherry Hill, NJ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cherry Hill, NJ and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,197 in Cherry Hill, NJ, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 2% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Cherry Hill, NJ compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,795 per month in Cherry Hill, NJ and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cherry Hill, NJ and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Cherry Hill, NJ and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cherry Hill, NJ or Chicago, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,197 in Cherry Hill, NJ and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. That's a gap of about 2%.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,197 in Cherry Hill, NJ and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Cherry Hill, NJ and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,197 in Cherry Hill, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Cherry Hill, NJ or Chicago, IL safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Cherry Hill, NJ and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cherry Hill, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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