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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 22% more expensive than Middletown, NJ without rent, and 0.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 32.9% more expensive than Middletown, NJ without rent, and 6.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$24.89 $24.89

-16.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$86 $86

16.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.58 $12.58

-4.85%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.89 $5.89

-5.60%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$3.24 $3.24

-4.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.47 $2.47

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.09 $6.09

12.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.81 $7.81

8.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$2.83 $2.83

46.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.59 $5.59

-1.25%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.1 $4.1

13.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.26 $13.26

8.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$6.52 $6.52

128.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.1 $13.1

47.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.22 $3.22

60.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.79 $2.79

58.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.43 $4.43

1.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.68 $1.68

50.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.13 $4.13

-33.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.48 $2.48

-2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.46 $2.46

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.39 $9.39

61.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$20.26 $20.26

-18.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.97 $2.97

-20.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.75 $3.75

-1.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.94 $4.94

-32.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.22 $2.22

-36.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.25 $42.25

-39.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.97 $0.97

11.34%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$35.1K $35.1K

-7.55%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$27.5K $27.5K

-4.55%

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

$188 $188

$178 $178

5.45%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.1 $59.1

7.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$59.8 $59.8

9.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.86 $42.86

79.00%

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

$3,146 $3,146

-34.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

66.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$49.29 $49.29

30.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.85 $48.85

7.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$35.3 $35.3

169.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$173 $173

-16.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,620 $1,620

46.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,723 $1,723

-8.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,621 $2,621

81.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,057 $3,057

-7.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,356 $2,356

52.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,531 $2,531

-1.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,016 $4,016

31.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Middletown, NJ: October 29, 2025

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