Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Howell Township, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Howell Township, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22.2% more expensive than Howell Township, NJ without rent, and 14.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 30.2% more expensive than Howell Township, NJ without rent, and 25.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.37 $19.37
7.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.6 $75.6
32.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.99 $10.99
8.92%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.24 $5.24
6.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.52 $2.52
23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.01 $2.01
20.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.1 $6.1
12.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.06 $7.06
19.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.41 $1.41
-26.24%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.79 $3.79
9.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.46 $4.46
23.77%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.24 $4.24
9.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.28 $12.28
16.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12.2 $12.2
21.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.21 $15.21
27.15%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.85 $4.85
6.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.3 $1.3
31.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.16 $4.16
6.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.62 $4.62
-2.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.82 $2.82
-10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.91 $2.91
-5.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.03 $2.03
19.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.19 $2.19
23.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.58 $9.58
58.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.66 $14.66
12.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.84 $1.84
27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.32 $3.32
11.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.99 $1.99
27.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.45 $3.45
-3.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.61 $1.61
-11.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.02 $29.02
-12.41%
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
7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$186 $186
1.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.2 $53.2
19.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$128 $128
-48.89%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.04 $43.04
78.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.52 $13.52
10.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,287 $1,287
60.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.1K $23.1K
69.30%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$51.2 $51.2
25.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$40.79 $40.79
28.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$88 $88
8.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,625 $1,625
46.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,346 $1,346
17.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,662 $2,662
78.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,236 $2,236
25.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,903 $2,903
23.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,352 $2,352
5.87%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Howell Township, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,036 $3,036
73.76%
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 Howell Township, NJ: October 29, 2025

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