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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $3,747 in Bridgewater, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $5,514 in Bridgewater, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $7,281 in Bridgewater, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 18% less than in Bridgewater, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Bridgewater, NJ 180% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$19.61 $19.61

6.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$101 $101

-2.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$14.26 $14.26

-16.83%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.56 $5.56

0.72%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.81 $2.81

9.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.06 $2.06

19.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$7.98 $7.98

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$8.02 $8.02

0.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.44 $1.44

-27.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.64 $4.64

-11.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.35 $6.35

-11.65%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$5.38 $5.38

-16.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.93 $13.93

2.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$23.82 $23.82

-37.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$17.75 $17.75

8.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.17 $7.17

-28.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.52 $2.52

-29.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.61 $5.61

-21.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.22 $6.22

-26.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$5.19 $5.19

-51.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.69 $3.69

-25.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.59 $2.59

-6.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.01 $3.01

-12.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.17 $11.17

33.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.07 $12.07

22.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.68 $1.68

46.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.55 $3.55

5.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$119 $119

-36.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.97 $2.97

7.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.60 $1.60

-11.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$42.49 $42.49

-41.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.82 $0.82

29.27%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

28.28%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

-3.00%

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

$185 $185

$177 $177

4.62%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$60.4 $60.4

2.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$56.1 $56.1

19.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$102 $102

-25.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

$50.1 $50.1

-73.87%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$19.73 $19.73

-25.44%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,863 $1,863

8.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$14.2K $14.2K

177.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$68.9 $68.9

-6.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$59.7 $59.7

-12.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$110 $110

-11.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$131 $131

12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,348 $2,348

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$2,152 $2,152

-26.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$3,769 $3,769

22.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$3,486 $3,486

-20.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$6,462 $6,462

-19.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Last update for Bridgewater, NJ: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $2,348 in Bridgewater, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bridgewater, NJ pays 24% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $101 in Bridgewater, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $535 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 Bridgewater, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Bridgewater, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chicago, IL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Bridgewater, NJ earns 24% less. 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,348 in Bridgewater, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Bridgewater, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Chicago, IL – a meal for two runs $98.0 versus $101 in Bridgewater, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 work as nomad bases, but Chicago, IL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $3,077 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Chicago, IL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Bridgewater, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.