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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,638 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,513 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,224 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,805 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 5% cheaper than Elizabeth, NJ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Chicago, IL and Elizabeth, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 128%, Elizabeth, NJ by 140%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$20.06 $20.06

3.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.0 $99.0

1.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$11.95 $11.95

-0.75%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.69 $5.69

-2.64%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.30 $2.30

33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.55 $1.55

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.84 $6.84

1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.90 $6.90

17.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.30 $1.30

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.14 $4.14

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.70 $5.70

-4.91%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$5.30 $5.30

-15.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$13.74 $13.74

5.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.39 $11.39

33.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$17.55 $17.55

9.69%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.76 $5.76

-6.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.57 $2.57

-34.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.22 $4.22

2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.29 $4.29

5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.02 $3.02

-15.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.83 $2.83

-14.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.43 $2.43

7.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$14.73 $14.73

1.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.11 $15.11

-2.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.61 $2.61

-4.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.51 $3.51

5.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.89 $2.89

-11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

$76.1 $76.1

-0.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$3.02 $3.02

8.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.23 $2.23

-35.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$42.67 $42.67

-42.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$23.5K $23.5K

34.89%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.5K $24.5K

7.92%

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

$183 $183

$215 $215

-14.75%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$52.5 $52.5

17.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$58.4 $58.4

11.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$25.06 $25.06

203.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$20.19 $20.19

-26.94%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,722 $1,722

19.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$14.1K $14.1K

173.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$50.7 $50.7

26.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$59.8 $59.8

-13.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$87.7 $87.7

10.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$126 $126

16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$2,184 $2,184

7.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,769 $1,769

-10.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,662 $2,662

76.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,476 $2,476

9.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

$1,289 $1,289

208.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,147 $1,147

129.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$5,337 $5,337

-11.50%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $2,184 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 13% higher in Elizabeth, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL versus $99 in Elizabeth, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $437 – making Elizabeth, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL, $3,222 in Elizabeth, NJ – roughly 6% apart. Elizabeth, NJ costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,577 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,833 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Elizabeth, NJ – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Chicago, IL and $99.0 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 $3,051 in Chicago, IL and $3,222 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 $3,051 in Chicago, IL to $3,222 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.