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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,598 in Camden, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,851 in Camden, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $5,104 in Camden, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 20% more expensive than in Camden, NJ, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Camden, NJ 89% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$19.91 $19.91

-0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$80.6 $80.6

9.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$11.76 $11.76

12.50%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.33 $5.33

9.94%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.52 $2.52

3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.96 $1.96

18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$6.15 $6.15

14.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.16 $8.16

13.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.47 $1.47

-8.84%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$4.52 $4.52

-7.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$7.33 $7.33

-24.97%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$5.03 $5.03

-6.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$12.05 $12.05

22.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$13.00 $13.00

11.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$18.11 $18.11

8.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.69 $5.69

-0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.69 $1.69

16.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$5.08 $5.08

-20.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$5.22 $5.22

-2.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.78 $2.78

5.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.21 $3.21

-9.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.37 $2.37

-3.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.47 $2.47

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$12.75 $12.75

26.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.93 $14.93

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.40 $2.40

11.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.36 $3.36

3.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.14 $2.14

18.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.73 $2.73

15.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.59 $1.59

-13.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$24.35 $24.35

-6.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.15 $1.15

4.35%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.2K $35.2K

5.09%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.64%

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

$190 $190

$217 $217

-12.76%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$55.2 $55.2

24.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$61.5 $61.5

-0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

$39.04 $39.04

63.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$15.05 $15.05

21.46%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$2,187 $2,187

-30.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$34.7K $34.7K

-7.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$49.26 $49.26

29.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$47.15 $47.15

15.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

0.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$121 $121

26.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$1,355 $1,355

78.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,392 $1,392

21.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$2,262 $2,262

102.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$1,999 $1,999

39.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

$2,921 $2,921

42.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

$2,346 $2,346

16.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.16

3.57%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Camden, NJ: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $1,355 in Camden, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $81.0 in Camden, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $452 per month, with Camden, NJ 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 Camden, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Camden, NJ differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($3,106 vs $2,598 including rent). Camden, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,659 in Chicago, IL and $3,897 in Camden, 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: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $1,355 in Camden, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,106 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,598 in Camden, NJ – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,598 in Camden, NJ versus $3,106 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Camden, NJ but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Camden, NJ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Chicago, IL and Camden, 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 Camden, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.