Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Atlantic City, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Atlantic City, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL versus $2,408 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,576 in Chicago, IL versus $3,602 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,143 in Chicago, IL versus $4,796 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 25% more expensive than in Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Atlantic City, NJ 81% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$24.72 $24.72

-18.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$60.2 $60.2

67.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$12.06 $12.06

-0.17%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$5.50 $5.50

4.73%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.82 $2.82

5.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.52 $2.52

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$7.10 $7.10

1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$8.84 $8.84

-8.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.22 $1.22

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$4.04 $4.04

1.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$8.30 $8.30

-36.27%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$6.53 $6.53

-30.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$17.12 $17.12

-15.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$16.61 $16.61

-10.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$19.92 $19.92

-1.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.49 $4.49

20.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.44 $2.44

-29.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$5.73 $5.73

-27.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$6.33 $6.33

-27.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$3.83 $3.83

-35.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$4.12 $4.12

-33.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.05 $2.05

32.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$19.15 $19.15

-22.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$14.72 $14.72

3.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$3.04 $3.04

-22.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.89 $3.89

-3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.98 $1.98

24.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.89 $4.89

-32.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.12 $2.12

-35.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$41.92 $41.92

-41.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.87 $0.87

20.69%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-7.54%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.8K $27.8K

-6.28%

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

$186 $186

$184 $184

1.00%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$60.9 $60.9

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$54.9 $54.9

22.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$42.35 $42.35

77.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$14.63 $14.63

3.21%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$3,114 $3,114

-35.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

71.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$43.12 $43.12

48.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$40.63 $40.63

25.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$59.8 $59.8

60.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$74.8 $74.8

96.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,381 $1,381

68.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$982 $982

59.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$1,992 $1,992

134.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$1,857 $1,857

51.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$3,567 $3,567

14.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$3,547 $3,547

-25.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$3,983 $3,983

22.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 27, 2026

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,329 in Chicago, IL and $1,381 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Chicago, IL vs $60.0 in Atlantic City, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $503, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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

Chicago, IL vs Atlantic City, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Atlantic City, NJ differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($3,009 vs $2,408 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,381 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,023 in Chicago, IL versus $3,114 in Atlantic City, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $101 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Atlantic City, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Expats usually find Atlantic City, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.