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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.3% cheaper than Newark, NJ without rent, and 4% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Newark, NJ without rent, and 4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.78 $19.78

5.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$88.7 $88.7

13.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.23 $12.23

-2.13%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.85 $4.85

14.64%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.63 $2.63

18.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.96 $1.96

23.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.98 $5.98

14.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.97 $6.97

21.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.4 $1.4

-25.71%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.38 $4.38

-5.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$7.98 $7.98

-30.83%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.9 $5.9

-21.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$14.92 $14.92

-3.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.17 $16.17

-7.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.67 $20.67

-6.43%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.63 $7.63

-32.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.55 $2.55

-32.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.68 $5.68

-22.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.55 $6.55

-31.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.88 $3.88

-34.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.93 $3.93

-30.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.09 $3.09

-21.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.55 $2.55

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.98 $12.98

17.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.26 $18.26

-10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.95 $1.95

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.72 $3.72

-0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$5.85 $5.85

-56.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$55.3 $55.3

34.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.02 $3.02

10.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.43 $1.43

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.56 $21.56

17.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.21%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.38%

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

$188 $188

$266 $266

-29.18%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$62.7 $62.7

1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$75.7 $75.7

-13.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$29.52 $29.52

159.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$17.29 $17.29

-24.64%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.77 $14.77

1.08%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$2,110 $2,110

-2.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$42.5K $42.5K

-7.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$53 $53

21.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$42.01 $42.01

24.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$111 $111

-14.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$168 $168

-14.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,320 $2,320

2.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,561 $1,561

1.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,306 $3,306

44.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,605 $2,605

8.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,994 $3,994

-10.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,897 $3,897

-36.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,389 $3,389

55.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.63

-0.45%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Newark, NJ: October 28, 2025

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