Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Bergen County, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $4,323 in Bergen County, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
208

Cost of Living Index in Bergen County, NJ
Learn more

Bergen County, NJ Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Bergen County, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$4,323

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Bergen County, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Bergen County, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL versus $4,323 in Bergen County, NJ.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Bergen County, NJ $4,323

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,627 in Chicago, IL versus $5,463 in Bergen County, NJ.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Bergen County, NJ $5,463

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,115 in Chicago, IL versus $6,603 in Bergen County, NJ.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Bergen County, NJ $6,603

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 27% less than in Bergen County, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 132% above, Bergen County, NJ 219% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$22.48 $22.48

-8.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$85.3 $85.3

5.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$12.83 $12.83

0.86%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.13 $5.13

9.16%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$3.07 $3.07

-14.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.23 $2.23

1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$8.19 $8.19

-14.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$8.09 $8.09

9.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.45 $1.45

-12.41%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.37 $4.37

-13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$7.59 $7.59

-30.17%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$5.07 $5.07

-6.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$12.66 $12.66

10.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.91 $11.91

22.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$17.75 $17.75

5.75%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.25 $5.25

-1.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.54 $1.54

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.10 $5.10

-22.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.05 $5.05

-1.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.73 $2.73

1.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.05 $3.05

-9.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.38 $2.38

-6.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.39 $2.39

24.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$11.90 $11.90

17.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$24.56 $24.56

-37.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.72 $1.72

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.46 $4.46

-21.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.17 $4.17

-40.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$169 $169

-55.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.64 $2.64

26.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.53 $1.53

-6.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$24.11 $24.11

0.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.06 $1.06

18.87%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$28.0K $28.0K

24.93%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

0.73%

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

$193 $193

$211 $211

-8.48%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$73.5 $73.5

-7.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$64.7 $64.7

-5.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$98.2 $98.2

-44.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$49.53 $49.53

-43.63%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$15.26 $15.26

16.25%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$2,285 $2,285

-27.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$24.1K $24.1K

28.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$48.52 $48.52

36.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$46.34 $46.34

10.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$79.9 $79.9

25.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$153 $153

-7.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,786 $2,786

-12.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$2,685 $2,685

-37.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$4,541 $4,541

3.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,963 $2,963

-5.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$3,928 $3,928

4.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$3,697 $3,697

-28.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$5,356 $5,356

-9.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.62

2.87%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Bergen County, NJ

$2.7K 62.1% 60% $1K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Bergen County, NJ

$460 10.6% 2.3% $10

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Bergen County, NJ

$358 8.3% 4.3% $15

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Bergen County, NJ

$349 8.1% 8.2% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Bergen County, NJ

$147 3.4% 8.6% $14

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Bergen County, NJ

$196 4.5% 106% $101

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Bergen County, NJ

$129 3% 43.6% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,446 in Chicago, IL and $2,786 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen County, NJ pays 10% 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: $90.0 in Chicago, IL vs $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $449 vs $460, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Bergen County, NJ

🕒 Local time

23:46 11:46 PM

00:46 12:46 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

11,668

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Bergen County, NJ 1,140 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Bergen County, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bergen County, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Bergen County, NJ differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($3,139 vs $4,323 including rent). Chicago, IL is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Bergen County, NJ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $2,786 in Bergen County, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $90.0 versus $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL versus $4,323 in Bergen County, NJ – a 38% 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 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 Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Bergen County, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.