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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.5% more expensive than Hackensack, NJ without rent, and 0.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than Hackensack, NJ without rent, and 1.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.11 $20.11

3.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.26 $14.26

-16.06%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.28 $5.28

5.30%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.47 $2.47

25.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.87 $1.87

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.21 $7.21

-4.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.23 $9.23

-8.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.27 $1.27

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.74 $3.74

10.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.22 $5.22

5.75%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.9 $4.9

-5.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.7 $13.7

4.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.12 $10.12

47.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.37 $17.37

11.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.79 $4.79

7.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.84 $3.84

14.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.3 $4.3

4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.82 $2.82

-10.28%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.62 $2.62

4.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.4 $2.4

1.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.65 $2.65

1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.8 $11.8

28.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.13 $15.13

8.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.71 $1.71

37.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.46 $4.46

-17.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.59 $3.59

-29.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$60.7 $60.7

22.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.93 $2.93

13.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.07 $2.07

-31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$24.41 $24.41

4.14%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

36.07%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.13%

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

$188 $188

$212 $212

-11.12%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.1 $53.1

19.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$58 $58

12.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$45.44 $45.44

68.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$19.6 $19.6

-23.83%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,406 $1,406

46.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$15.9K $15.9K

146.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.1 $50.1

28.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$63.8 $63.8

-17.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.6 $87.6

8.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$98.5 $98.5

46.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,782 $1,782

33.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,614 $1,614

-1.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,382 $3,382

40.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,241 $3,241

-13.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,611 $3,611

-0.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,287 $3,287

-24.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,377 $4,377

20.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.62

-0.30%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Hackensack, NJ: October 28, 2025

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