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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 6.5% more expensive than Manalapan Township, NJ without rent, and 6.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 2% cheaper than Manalapan Township, NJ without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.83 $19.83

4.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.7 $88.7

13.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.29 $12.29

-2.60%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.6 $5.6

-0.71%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.45 $2.45

26.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.53 $2.53

-4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.97 $7.97

-13.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.02 $8.02

5.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.21 $1.21

-14.05%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4 $4

3.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.45 $6.45

-14.42%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.32 $4.32

7.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.66 $15.66

-8.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.35 $12.35

20.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.96 $14.96

29.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.91 $5.91

-12.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.48 $2.48

-31.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.39 $5.39

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.28 $6.28

-28.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.78 $2.78

-8.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.37 $4.37

-37.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.6 $2.6

-6.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.37 $2.37

13.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.14 $13.14

15.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.78 $17.78

-7.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.46 $2.46

-4.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.54 $3.54

4.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.05 $2.05

23.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$109 $109

-31.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.92 $2.92

14.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.1 $42.1

-39.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

26.77%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.7K $24.7K

6.35%

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

$188 $188

$181 $181

3.79%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.9 $59.9

6.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.6 $67.6

-3.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.96 $42.96

78.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.14 $15.14

-1.39%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,883 $1,883

9.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.1K $14.1K

178.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$61.6 $61.6

4.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$55.8 $55.8

-6.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$110 $110

-13.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$132 $132

9.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,620 $1,620

46.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,357 $1,357

16.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,652 $2,652

79.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,231 $2,231

26.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,160 $3,160

13.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,137 $2,137

16.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,017 $4,017

31.31%

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 Manalapan Township, NJ: October 29, 2025

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