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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,668 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $4,071 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $5,473 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 15% more expensive than Beach Haven, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Beach Haven, NJ 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$20.13 $20.13

3.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$122 $122

-19.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.53 $12.53

-5.35%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.88 $5.88

-4.76%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.69 $2.69

14.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.01 $2.01

22.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.95 $7.95

-10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.46 $1.46

-28.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.58 $4.58

-10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.49 $6.49

-13.56%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$5.59 $5.59

-19.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.59 $13.59

5.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.29 $12.29

21.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.36 $15.36

24.93%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$6.19 $6.19

-16.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.58 $1.58

12.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.56 $5.56

-21.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.33 $6.33

-27.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.79 $2.79

-8.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$4.96 $4.96

-44.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.74 $2.74

-11.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.37 $2.37

10.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$15.12 $15.12

-1.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.67 $19.67

-24.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.60 $2.60

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.52 $3.52

5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.97 $1.97

25.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.97 $2.97

7.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.11 $2.11

-32.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$42.45 $42.45

-41.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.97 $0.97

9.28%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

27.19%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$24.3K $24.3K

7.01%

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

$185 $185

$161 $161

15.09%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$59.3 $59.3

4.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$68.6 $68.6

-2.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.26 $43.26

73.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$20.37 $20.37

-27.79%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,942 $1,942

4.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$14.1K $14.1K

179.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$60.4 $60.4

6.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$59.0 $59.0

-11.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$110 $110

-11.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$130 $130

13.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$1,630 $1,630

41.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,338 $1,338

18.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,639 $2,639

74.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,264 $2,264

22.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,752 $2,752

42.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,493 $2,493

4.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Beach Haven, NJ: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $1,630 in Beach Haven, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $122 in Beach Haven, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $468 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 Beach Haven, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beach Haven, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,616 in Chicago, IL and $4,003 in Beach Haven, NJ to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $1,630 in Beach Haven, 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.

All in, you'll spend $3,077 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,668 in Beach Haven, NJ – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Beach Haven, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Beach Haven, NJ is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Chicago, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Beach Haven, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Beach Haven, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.