Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Howell Township, NJ: $2,681 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
128

Cost of Living Index in Howell Township, NJ
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Howell Township, NJ Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Howell Township, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,681

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Howell Township, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Howell Township, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,681 in Howell Township, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Howell Township, NJ $2,681

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,888 in Howell Township, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Howell Township, NJ $3,888

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,094 in Howell Township, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Howell Township, NJ $5,094

Chicago, IL costs about 15% more than Howell Township, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chicago, IL and Howell Township, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Howell Township, NJ by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.17 $20.17

1.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$75.0 $75.0

18.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$11.47 $11.47

12.03%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$5.19 $5.19

11.37%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.71 $2.71

1.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.95 $1.95

15.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$6.15 $6.15

11.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.33 $7.33

26.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.46 $1.46

-13.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.94 $3.94

-9.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$4.03 $4.03

33.50%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.27 $4.27

6.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$12.26 $12.26

11.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$12.00 $12.00

17.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$16.94 $16.94

6.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.33 $5.33

-3.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.28 $1.28

54.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$4.54 $4.54

-14.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.52 $4.52

6.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.13 $3.13

-10.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.66 $2.66

0.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.88 $1.88

10.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.30 $2.30

31.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$9.94 $9.94

39.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$14.95 $14.95

0.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.67 $1.67

57.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.21 $3.21

7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.76 $1.76

38.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$59.4 $59.4

26.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.94 $3.94

-19.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.62 $1.62

4.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$26.46 $26.46

-5.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.12 $1.12

14.29%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.1K $27.1K

32.14%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$28.8K $28.8K

-6.82%

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

$192 $192

$198 $198

-3.04%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$58.6 $58.6

18.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$127 $127

-50.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$40.27 $40.27

18.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.12 $14.12

26.27%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,206 $1,206

50.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$19.1K $19.1K

112.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$47.29 $47.29

39.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$38.60 $38.60

33.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$90.0 $90.0

14.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$115 $115

24.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,556 $1,556

62.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,293 $1,293

25.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$2,600 $2,600

85.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,108 $2,108

29.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,808 $2,808

48.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,679 $2,679

1.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,001 $3,001

64.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.59

2.88%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Howell Township, NJ: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Howell Township, NJ

$1.3K 48.2% 20.2% $328

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Howell Township, NJ

$404 15.1% 7.9% $35

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Howell Township, NJ

$322 12% 6.4% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Howell Township, NJ

$383 14.3% 18.4% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Howell Township, NJ

$131 4.9% 20.1% $33

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Howell Township, NJ

$78 2.9% 18.9% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Howell Township, NJ

$69 2.6% 17.9% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,556 in Howell Township, 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 64% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $75 in Howell Township, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $404 – making Howell Township, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Howell Township, NJ

🕒 Local time

10:42 10:42 AM

11:42 11:42 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

53,000

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Chicago, IL Howell Township, NJ 310 km

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Chicago, IL
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Howell Township, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,681 in Howell Township, NJ – Howell Township, NJ comes out roughly 13% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,022 in Howell Township, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Howell Township, NJ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,556 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $75 in Howell Township, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,681 in Howell Township, NJ. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Howell Township, NJ – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Howell Township, NJ. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.