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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 14.8% more expensive than Middlesex, NJ without rent, and 11.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 49.9% more expensive than Middlesex, NJ without rent, and 28.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$11.4 $11.4

82.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$36.97 $36.97

171.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$5.93 $5.93

101.85%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$3.28 $3.28

69.51%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.13 $1.13

175.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.99 $1.99

21.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$3.04 $3.04

125.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$5.97 $5.97

41.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.22 $1.22

-14.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.55 $3.55

16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$10.01 $10.01

-44.86%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.34 $4.34

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.31 $15.31

-6.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.03 $14.03

6.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.89 $20.89

-7.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.94 $5.94

-12.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.23 $2.23

-23.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.03 $5.03

-12.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.26 $5.26

-14.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.32 $3.32

-23.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.88 $2.88

-4.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.05 $3.05

-20.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.56 $2.56

5.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.92 $12.92

17.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.12 $15.12

8.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.94 $1.94

21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.15 $4.15

-10.84%

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

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.33 $1.33

6.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$22.12 $22.12

14.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.82 $0.82

31.71%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.1K $27.1K

19.53%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

-0.03%

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

$188 $188

$270 $270

-30.35%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$61.5 $61.5

3.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$76 $76

-14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.18 $42.18

81.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.15 $15.15

-1.45%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,111 $2,111

-2.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

68.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.2 $50.2

28.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.77 $42.77

22.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$92.5 $92.5

2.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$144 $144

0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,621 $2,621

-9.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,338 $1,338

18.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,674 $2,674

78.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,194 $2,194

28.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,734 $2,734

31.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,207 $2,207

12.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.68

-1.20%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Middlesex, NJ: October 29, 2025

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