Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Chicago, IL and in Elizabeth, NJ: $3,139 and $3,186 a month, rent and utilities included.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
156

Cost of Living Index in Elizabeth, NJ
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Elizabeth, NJ Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Elizabeth, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$3,186

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Elizabeth, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Elizabeth, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Elizabeth, NJ $3,186

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,453 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Elizabeth, NJ $4,453

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,720 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Elizabeth, NJ $5,720

Chicago, IL is about 1% cheaper than Elizabeth, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Chicago, IL and Elizabeth, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Elizabeth, NJ by 135%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$19.71 $19.71

4.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$80.4 $80.4

12.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.89 $11.89

8.83%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.45 $5.45

2.75%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.43 $2.43

8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.49 $1.49

52.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$7.78 $7.78

-10.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.15 $7.15

23.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.50 $4.50

-15.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.96 $5.96

-11.07%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$6.52 $6.52

-26.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$15.31 $15.31

-8.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$11.83 $11.83

23.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$19.73 $19.73

-4.87%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.95 $5.95

-12.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.55 $3.55

-44.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.20 $4.20

-6.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.42 $5.42

-8.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.99 $2.99

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.95 $2.95

-6.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.00 $3.00

-26.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.52 $2.52

18.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$14.62 $14.62

-4.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$15.29 $15.29

-0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.70 $2.70

-4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.41 $3.41

2.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.88 $2.88

-14.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$76.0 $76.0

-1.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.92 $2.92

14.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.11 $2.11

-32.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$42.39 $42.39

-42.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.09 $1.09

15.60%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.9K $27.9K

25.29%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.3K $26.3K

-0.85%

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

$193 $193

$247 $247

-22.10%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$51.0 $51.0

33.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$50.1 $50.1

22.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$24.78 $24.78

118.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$20.03 $20.03

-11.43%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$2,012 $2,012

-17.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$16.2K $16.2K

91.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$49.63 $49.63

33.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$77.6 $77.6

-33.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$87.9 $87.9

13.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$122 $122

15.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,181 $2,181

12.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,718 $1,718

-2.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,668 $2,668

76.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,492 $2,492

12.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$1,297 $1,297

216.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,143 $1,143

131.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$3,997 $3,997

21.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.67

2.10%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Elizabeth, NJ

$1.7K 53.9% 2.4% $40

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Elizabeth, NJ

$475 14.9% 5.7% $26

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Elizabeth, NJ

$328 10.3% 4.6% $16

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Elizabeth, NJ

$348 10.9% 8.1% $26

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Elizabeth, NJ

$152 4.8% 6% $9.7

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Elizabeth, NJ

$101 3.2% 6.1% $5.8

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Elizabeth, NJ

$65 2% 27.6% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $2,181 in Elizabeth, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $80.0 in Elizabeth, NJ. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $475 in Elizabeth, NJ – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Elizabeth, NJ

🕒 Local time

01:01 1:01 AM

02:01 2:01 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

126,179

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Elizabeth, NJ 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Elizabeth, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Elizabeth, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ – roughly 1% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,779 in Elizabeth, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Elizabeth, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $80.0 in Elizabeth, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,139 in Chicago, IL and $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elizabeth, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.