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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.5% cheaper than Edison, NJ without rent, and 10.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 8.9% more expensive than Edison, NJ without rent, and 0.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.9 $19.9

4.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$80.8 $80.8

24.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.59 $12.59

-4.92%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.19 $5.19

7.13%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.47 $2.47

25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.12 $2.12

14.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.78 $7.78

-11.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.13 $8.13

3.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.21 $1.21

-14.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.97 $3.97

4.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.18 $6.18

-10.68%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.32 $4.32

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.69 $13.69

4.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.47 $12.47

19.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.35 $15.35

25.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.21 $6.21

-16.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.58 $2.58

-33.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.44 $5.44

-18.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.93 $5.93

-23.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.44 $4.44

-43.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.34 $4.34

-36.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.48 $2.48

-2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.29 $2.29

17.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.19 $11.19

35.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.64 $18.64

-11.91%

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

$3.59 $3.59

3.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.82 $5.82

-56.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$201 $201

-63.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$0.96 $0.96

47.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.33 $42.33

-39.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

25.52%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.05%

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

$188 $188

$178 $178

5.65%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$60.6 $60.6

5.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$69.4 $69.4

-6.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$22.36 $22.36

243.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.78 $14.78

1.01%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,831 $1,831

12.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.4K $14.4K

171.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$61.9 $61.9

3.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$55.4 $55.4

-5.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$113 $113

-15.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$131 $131

10.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,106 $2,106

12.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,829 $1,829

-13.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,160 $3,160

50.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,745 $2,745

2.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,548 $2,548

40.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,739 $2,739

-9.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,422 $6,422

-17.86%

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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Edison, NJ: October 27, 2025

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