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: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $2,863 in Camden, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $4,246 in Camden, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $5,629 in Camden, NJ.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 8% more expensive than in Camden, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Camden, NJ 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$19.65 $19.65

5.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$90.0 $90.0

9.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$11.84 $11.84

0.51%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$4.89 $4.89

19.43%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.64 $2.64

16.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$6.13 $6.13

12.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.19 $7.19

12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.42 $1.42

-26.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.05 $4.05

-1.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$8.43 $8.43

-33.57%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.37 $4.37

4.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$15.43 $15.43

-7.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$16.58 $16.58

-10.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$19.81 $19.81

-3.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.91 $5.91

-10.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.22 $2.22

-22.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.62 $5.62

-24.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$5.47 $5.47

-20.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.83 $3.83

-33.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.88 $2.88

-2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.98 $2.98

-17.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.48 $2.48

8.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$13.07 $13.07

14.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$21.41 $21.41

-31.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.02 $2.02

17.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$4.20 $4.20

-15.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.35 $2.35

3.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

$58.8 $58.8

27.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.08 $3.08

8.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.53 $1.53

-10.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$22.31 $22.31

13.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$30.7K $30.7K

5.11%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.45%

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

$188 $188

$270 $270

-30.26%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$59.6 $59.6

6.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$77.4 $77.4

-14.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.35 $42.35

78.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.95 $14.95

-1.00%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$2,063 $2,063

1.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$23.8K $23.8K

62.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$57.3 $57.3

13.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$41.37 $41.37

24.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$93.1 $93.1

3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$144 $144

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,610 $1,610

44.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,355 $1,355

16.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,667 $2,667

79.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,236 $2,236

21.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,441 $2,441

64.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,103 $2,103

27.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$4,740 $4,740

5.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Camden, NJ: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $1,610 in Camden, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 5% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $90.0 in Camden, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $445 vs $507, with Chicago, IL cheaper for home cooking.

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 8% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $2,863 including rent). Camden, NJ is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 5% higher in Chicago, IL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,610 in Camden, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Camden, NJ runs roughly 28% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,097 in Chicago, IL versus $2,063 in Camden, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Camden, NJ 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.

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 8% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.