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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23% more expensive than Freehold, NJ without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 46.3% more expensive than Freehold, NJ without rent, and 27.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.37 $19.37

7.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$68.6 $68.6

46.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.1 $11.1

7.84%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.56 $4.56

21.93%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.22 $2.22

40.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.91 $1.91

26.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.85 $5.85

17.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.69 $6.69

26.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.38 $3.38

22.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.47 $4.47

23.49%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.3 $4.3

8.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.2 $12.2

17.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.36 $11.36

30.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.65 $15.65

23.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.97 $4.97

4.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.32 $4.32

2.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.81 $4.81

-6.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.8 $2.8

-9.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.78 $2.78

-1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.04 $2.04

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.46 $9.46

60.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.84 $13.84

18.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.86 $1.86

26.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.43 $3.43

7.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.53 $3.53

-5.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.77 $29.77

-14.61%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

7.58%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.33%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.99%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.8 $53.8

18.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.3 $67.3

-3.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.3 $42.3

81.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.59 $13.59

9.86%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,307 $1,307

57.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.1K $23.1K

69.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.3 $50.3

27.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.29 $40.29

30.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.4 $87.4

8.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

28.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,609 $1,609

47.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,349 $1,349

17.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,588 $2,588

84.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,259 $2,259

24.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,049 $3,049

17.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,732 $2,732

-8.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,857 $3,857

36.78%

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 Freehold, NJ: October 29, 2025

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