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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,775 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $4,172 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $5,569 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 10% more expensive than Beach Haven, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Beach Haven, NJ 107% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$19.98 $19.98

3.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$118 $118

-14.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.29 $12.29

-3.50%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.78 $5.78

-4.15%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.75 $2.75

11.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.09 $2.09

18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$7.97 $7.97

-13.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$8.12 $8.12

0.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.46 $1.46

-28.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.65 $4.65

-15.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.46 $6.46

-16.10%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$5.28 $5.28

-15.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$13.88 $13.88

4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$12.38 $12.38

22.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$15.30 $15.30

25.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$6.10 $6.10

-11.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.59 $1.59

6.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.65 $5.65

-23.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.40 $6.40

-29.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.79 $2.79

-8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$4.84 $4.84

-44.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.74 $2.74

-12.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.40 $2.40

9.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.92 $14.92

0.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$19.79 $19.79

-25.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.47 $2.47

0.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.48 $3.48

6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.02 $2.02

26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.03 $3.03

8.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.23 $2.23

-35.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$41.27 $41.27

-40.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.96 $0.96

13.54%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$24.9K $24.9K

27.58%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

10.08%

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

$183 $183

$162 $162

12.79%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$58.8 $58.8

5.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$67.2 $67.2

-3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$43.37 $43.37

75.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$20.29 $20.29

-27.30%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,902 $1,902

8.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$14.3K $14.3K

169.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$61.1 $61.1

4.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$60.0 $60.0

-14.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$109 $109

-10.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$132 $132

11.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,587 $1,587

48.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,357 $1,357

16.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,658 $2,658

77.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,238 $2,238

21.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$2,806 $2,806

41.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,392 $2,392

10.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Beach Haven, NJ: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,587 in Beach Haven, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $118 in Beach Haven, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $469 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 Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $4,577 in Chicago, IL and $4,163 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,587 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 $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,775 in Beach Haven, NJ – a 10% 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 10% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.