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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 7.9% more expensive than Clifton, NJ without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.7% more expensive than Clifton, NJ without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.93 $19.93
4.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$102 $102
-1.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.2 $12.2
-1.89%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$6.02 $6.02
-7.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.31 $2.31
34.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.65 $1.65
46.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.91 $6.91
-0.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.09 $7.09
19.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.29 $1.29
-19.38%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.28 $4.28
-3.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.61 $5.61
-1.60%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$6.48 $6.48
-28.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.8 $12.8
11.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.48 $10.48
41.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$19.8 $19.8
-2.32%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.76 $5.76
-10.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.48 $2.48
-31.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.34 $4.34
1.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.11 $5.11
-11.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.03 $3.03
-16.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.54 $2.54
7.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.75 $2.75
-11.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.45 $2.45
10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$17.3 $17.3
-12.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$18.16 $18.16
-9.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.77 $3.77
-1.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.77 $2.77
-8.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.03 $3.03
10.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.12 $2.12
-33.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.81 $42.81
-40.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.94 $0.94
14.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.7K $31.7K
2.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.3K $25.3K
3.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$213 $213
-11.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53 $53
20.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.7 $63.7
2.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$20.84 $20.84
268.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$20.07 $20.07
-25.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,769 $1,769
16.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.2K $16.2K
142.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$50 $50
28.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$20.08 $20.08
160.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$89.9 $89.9
5.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$172 $172
-15.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,732 $1,732
37.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,668 $1,668
-5.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,678 $2,678
77.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,161 $2,161
30.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,810 $2,810
27.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,363 $2,363
5.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Clifton, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,377 $4,377
20.51%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Clifton, NJ: October 28, 2025

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