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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $3,761 in Bayonne, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $5,346 in Bayonne, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $6,931 in Bayonne, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 17% less than in Bayonne, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Bayonne, NJ 175% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$20.16 $20.16

-1.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$78.9 $78.9

12.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.92 $11.92

8.56%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.59 $5.59

-0.89%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.57 $2.57

6.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$1.52 $1.52

55.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$8.22 $8.22

-13.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$6.95 $6.95

25.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.37 $1.37

-2.19%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.42 $4.42

-5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$7.09 $7.09

-19.18%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$6.80 $6.80

-28.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$13.77 $13.77

7.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$17.42 $17.42

-14.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$19.79 $19.79

-0.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.91 $5.91

-5.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$3.60 $3.60

-46.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.39 $4.39

-5.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$5.40 $5.40

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$3.07 $3.07

-7.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$3.10 $3.10

-9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.65 $2.65

-16.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.09 $3.09

-0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$14.84 $14.84

8.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$15.07 $15.07

-1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.80 $2.80

-9.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.56 $3.56

-5.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.30 $2.30

10.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.05 $3.05

8.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.21 $2.21

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$41.65 $41.65

-39.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.05 $1.05

11.43%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$35.4K $35.4K

1.52%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.12%

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

$191 $191

$170 $170

12.26%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$50.1 $50.1

35.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$61.2 $61.2

0.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$20.25 $20.25

213.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$20.29 $20.29

-11.19%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$2,015 $2,015

-24.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$16.2K $16.2K

92.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$50.8 $50.8

25.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$76.3 $76.3

-27.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$86.1 $86.1

16.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$101 $101

51.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,980 $1,980

21.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$2,504 $2,504

-33.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$2,430 $2,430

88.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$4,074 $4,074

-31.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$4,581 $4,581

4.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.28

1.59%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bayonne, NJ: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,980 in Bayonne, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $79.0 in Bayonne, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $464 vs $511, 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 Bayonne, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Bayonne, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chicago, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 5% 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 $1,980 in Bayonne, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Bayonne, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL versus $3,761 in Bayonne, NJ – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Both work as nomad bases, but Chicago, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,117 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chicago, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Bayonne, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.