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: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,850 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $4,214 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $5,578 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 9% more expensive than in Atlantic City, NJ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Atlantic City, NJ 108% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$19.87 $19.87

0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$88.6 $88.6

-0.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.41 $11.41

13.41%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.63 $5.63

-1.60%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.53 $2.53

8.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.08 $2.08

13.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$6.59 $6.59

8.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$8.54 $8.54

2.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.24 $1.24

8.06%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.35 $3.35

24.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.98 $6.98

-17.91%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$4.38 $4.38

11.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$10.93 $10.93

35.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$16.46 $16.46

-9.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$19.96 $19.96

-1.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$7.83 $7.83

-28.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.84 $3.84

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.26 $5.26

-20.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.81 $5.81

-16.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$4.11 $4.11

-30.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.72 $4.72

-40.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.50 $2.50

-12.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.57 $2.57

19.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$14.24 $14.24

13.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$13.39 $13.39

10.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.76 $2.76

-8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.36 $3.36

-0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.96 $2.96

-13.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$91.3 $91.3

-17.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.02 $3.02

9.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.23 $2.23

-39.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$41.58 $41.58

-39.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.87 $0.87

34.48%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$20.3K $20.3K

77.20%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.43%

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

$191 $191

$242 $242

-20.95%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$55.3 $55.3

22.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$63.0 $63.0

-2.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$30.19 $30.19

110.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

$49.95 $49.95

-45.67%

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$16.68 $16.68

8.03%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$491 $491

209.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$6,892 $6,892

354.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$70.2 $70.2

-9.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$31.34 $31.34

76.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$121 $121

-17.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$122 $122

25.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,745 $1,745

37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,292 $1,292

27.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,383 $2,383

92.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$2,192 $2,192

26.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$3,577 $3,577

12.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$3,643 $3,643

-24.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,134 $4,134

16.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

112.67%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Atlantic City, NJ: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,745 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 16% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $89.0 in Atlantic City, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $464 vs $489 per month, with Chicago, IL cheaper across the board.

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 9% in total monthly costs ($3,117 vs $2,850 including rent). Atlantic City, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 16% 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,745 in Atlantic City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Chicago, IL pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Atlantic City, NJ – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $88.0 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 9% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.