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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.5% more expensive than Elizabeth, NJ without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 3.3% cheaper than Elizabeth, NJ without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.26 $20.26

2.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$98.1 $98.1

2.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.82 $11.82

1.27%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.85 $5.85

-4.96%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.3 $2.3

35.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.54 $1.54

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.8 $6.8

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.04 $7.04

20.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.28 $1.28

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.35 $4.35

-4.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.5 $5.5

0.36%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.59 $5.59

-16.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.91 $13.91

3.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.65 $11.65

27.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.54 $17.54

10.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.66 $5.66

-8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.63 $2.63

-34.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.38 $4.38

0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.41 $4.41

2.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.03 $3.03

-16.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.81 $2.81

-2.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.86 $2.86

-15.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.5 $2.5

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$14.71 $14.71

3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.76 $14.76

11.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.46 $2.46

-4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.65 $3.65

1.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.8 $2.8

-9.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$76.2 $76.2

-2.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.09 $3.09

8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.15 $2.15

-33.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.7 $42.7

-40.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.3K $23.3K

39.42%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.6K $24.6K

6.46%

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

$188 $188

$218 $218

-13.73%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.2 $54.2

17.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58.4 $58.4

11.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$24.85 $24.85

208.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$19.95 $19.95

-25.16%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,745 $1,745

18.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.3K $14.3K

174.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.59 $49.59

29.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$58.9 $58.9

-11.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.1 $87.1

9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$126 $126

14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,113 $2,113

12.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,739 $1,739

-8.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,680 $2,680

77.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,479 $2,479

13.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,757 $2,757

30.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,432 $2,432

2.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,269 $5,269

0.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: October 28, 2025

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