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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 2.1% more expensive than Montclair, NJ without rent, and 6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 21.2% more expensive than Montclair, NJ without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.47 $17.47

19.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.8 $99.8

0.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.89 $11.89

0.67%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.84 $5.84

-4.79%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.99 $2.99

4.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.6 $1.6

51.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.83 $7.83

-12.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$12.19 $12.19

-30.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.27 $1.27

-18.11%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.31 $4.31

-3.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.6 $5.6

-1.43%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.75 $6.75

-31.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14 $14

2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.13 $10.13

46.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.15 $20.15

-4.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.65 $5.65

-8.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.47 $2.47

-30.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.24 $4.24

4.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.13 $4.13

9.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.07 $3.07

-17.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.56 $2.56

7.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.73 $2.73

-10.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.56 $2.56

5.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.75 $17.75

-14.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.92 $14.92

10.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.76 $1.76

33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.88 $3.88

-4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.06 $3.06

9.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.21 $2.21

-35.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.83 $42.83

-40.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

37.38%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

3.62%

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

$188 $188

$181 $181

4.16%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54 $54

18.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$60.7 $60.7

7.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.48 $42.48

80.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$20.17 $20.17

-25.98%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,740 $1,740

18.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$15.8K $15.8K

147.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67 $67

-4.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.63 $48.63

7.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.6 $98.6

-3.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$119 $119

21.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,265 $2,265

4.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,529 $1,529

3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,798 $3,798

25.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,732 $2,732

3.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,045 $3,045

17.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,287 $2,287

8.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

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 Montclair, NJ: October 28, 2025

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