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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,734 in Bloomfield, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,987 in Bloomfield, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,240 in Bloomfield, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 12% more than Bloomfield, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chicago, IL and Bloomfield, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Bloomfield, NJ by 105%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$19.61 $19.61

2.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$98.0 $98.0

1.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$12.08 $12.08

1.24%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.87 $5.87

-4.60%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.30 $2.30

35.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.56 $1.56

55.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$7.85 $7.85

-11.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.08 $7.08

15.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.28 $4.28

-7.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$5.79 $5.79

-3.63%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$5.43 $5.43

-17.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.58 $13.58

6.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$10.16 $10.16

48.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.85 $14.85

30.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.69 $5.69

-5.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.68 $2.68

-34.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.31 $4.31

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.18 $6.18

-28.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.32 $3.32

-23.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.30 $3.30

-18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.77 $2.77

-10.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.32 $2.32

12.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$15.26 $15.26

-3.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.79 $14.79

2.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.86 $1.86

32.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.98 $1.98

28.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.94 $2.94

12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.22 $2.22

-37.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$41.69 $41.69

-39.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.95 $0.95

14.74%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$23.9K $23.9K

32.59%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.85%

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

$186 $186

$159 $159

17.09%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$54.4 $54.4

15.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$59.2 $59.2

11.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$43.36 $43.36

79.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$20.39 $20.39

-27.71%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,780 $1,780

14.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$14.4K $14.4K

176.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$50.5 $50.5

26.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$59.4 $59.4

-13.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$86.8 $86.8

9.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$97.8 $97.8

47.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,719 $1,719

34.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,526 $1,526

3.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,467 $3,467

35.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,245 $2,245

21.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$5,159 $5,159

-2.70%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bloomfield, NJ: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,719 in Bloomfield, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Bloomfield, NJ, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $98.0 in Bloomfield, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $431 – making Bloomfield, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bloomfield, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,101 in Bloomfield, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bloomfield, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $98.0 in Bloomfield, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,068 in Chicago, IL and $2,734 in Bloomfield, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bloomfield, NJ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bloomfield, NJ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.