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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.4% more expensive than Camden, NJ without rent, and 4.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.5% more expensive than Camden, NJ without rent, and 11.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.84 $19.84
4.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$90 $90
11.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.2 $12.2
-1.89%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.8 $4.8
15.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.66 $2.66
16.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.93 $1.93
25.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.04 $6.04
13.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.92 $6.92
22.11%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.37 $1.37
-24.09%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.19 $4.19
-0.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$8.38 $8.38
-34.13%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.54 $4.54
2.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$15.04 $15.04
-4.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$16.61 $16.61
-10.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.55 $20.55
-5.89%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.03 $6.03
-14.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.13 $2.13
-19.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.81 $5.81
-24.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.42 $5.42
-16.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.73 $3.73
-32.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.8 $2.8
-2.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.06 $3.06
-20.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.53 $2.53
6.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.63 $12.63
20.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.06 $15.06
9.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.05 $2.05
14.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.26 $4.26
-13.15%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.35 $2.35
7.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$59.5 $59.5
24.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.03 $3.03
10.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.58 $1.58
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$22.24 $22.24
14.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.9 $0.9
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31K $31K
4.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
2.16%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$269 $269
-29.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$60.9 $60.9
4.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$75.8 $75.8
-13.94%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.7 $43.7
75.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.97 $14.97
-0.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$2,093 $2,093
-1.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.7K $23.7K
65.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$57 $57
12.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$42.68 $42.68
22.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$93.5 $93.5
1.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$145 $145
-0.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,574 $1,574
51.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,334 $1,334
18.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,648 $2,648
79.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,247 $2,247
25.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,826 $2,826
26.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,405 $2,405
3.56%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Camden, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,090 $3,090
70.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.44
2.48%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Camden, NJ: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.