Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Beach Haven, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Beach Haven, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 3.1% more expensive than Beach Haven, NJ without rent, and 12% more expensive with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 5% cheaper than Beach Haven, NJ without rent, and 13.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.32 $20.32
2.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$119 $119
-15.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.57 $12.57
-4.77%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.76 $5.76
-3.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.74 $2.74
13.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.03 $2.03
19.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.95 $7.95
-13.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$8.14 $8.14
3.81%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.45 $1.45
-28.28%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.59 $4.59
-9.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$6.26 $6.26
-11.82%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.4 $5.4
-13.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.72 $13.72
4.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.36 $12.36
20.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.17 $15.17
27.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.88 $5.88
-12.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.59 $1.59
7.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.79 $5.79
-23.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.15 $6.15
-26.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.87 $2.87
-11.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.92 $4.92
-44.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.74 $2.74
-11.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.29 $2.29
17.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$15.07 $15.07
0.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$19.3 $19.3
-14.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.61 $2.61
-9.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.65 $3.65
1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.03 $2.03
24.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.93 $2.93
13.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.23 $2.23
-36.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.88 $41.88
-39.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.97 $0.97
11.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25.1K $25.1K
29.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.6K $24.6K
6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$161 $161
16.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$59.4 $59.4
7.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$67.9 $67.9
-4.02%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.11 $43.11
77.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$20.02 $20.02
-25.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,893 $1,893
8.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$14.3K $14.3K
174.25%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$60.6 $60.6
6.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$58.6 $58.6
-10.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$109 $109
-12.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$133 $133
8.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,633 $1,633
45.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,332 $1,332
18.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,644 $2,644
80.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,232 $2,232
26.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,372 $2,372
51.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,200 $2,200
13.18%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Beach Haven, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.51
1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Beach Haven, NJ: October 28, 2025

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