Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Lee, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Fort Lee, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 25.2% more expensive than Fort Lee, NJ without rent, and 3.2% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 14.1% more expensive than Fort Lee, NJ without rent, and 10.6% 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

$102 $102

-1.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.44 $12.44

-3.78%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.53 $5.53

0.54%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.42 $2.42

28.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.28 $1.28

89.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.83 $6.83

0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.19 $9.19

-8.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.29 $1.29

-19.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.34 $3.34

24.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.31 $4.31

28.07%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.38 $4.38

6.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$20.98 $20.98

-31.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12 $12

24.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.28 $17.28

11.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.02 $5.02

2.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.51 $1.51

13.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.88 $3.88

13.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.23 $4.23

6.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.81 $2.81

-9.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.91 $3.91

-29.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.45 $2.45

-0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.67 $2.67

1.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12 $12

26.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.1 $12.1

35.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$5.82 $5.82

-36.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.91 $3.91

-35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.02 $3.02

10.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.1 $2.1

-32.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$23.87 $23.87

6.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.93 $0.93

16.13%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.3K $30.3K

7.06%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.6K $25.6K

2.46%

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

$188 $188

$127 $127

48.60%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$44.47 $44.47

43.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$65.1 $65.1

0.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$127 $127

-39.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.3 $15.3

-2.42%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,998 $1,998

3.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

66.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$73.7 $73.7

-12.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$59.9 $59.9

-12.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$70.2 $70.2

35.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

42.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,249 $2,249

5.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,839 $1,839

-13.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,673 $4,673

1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,851 $3,851

-26.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$4,348 $4,348

-17.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,712 $3,712

-32.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$6,685 $6,685

-21.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.35

3.94%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Denver, CO

🇺🇸 United States

Miami, FL

🇺🇸 United States

San Diego, CA

🇺🇸 United States

Philadelphia, PA

🇺🇸 United States

Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

Minneapolis, MN

🇺🇸 United States