Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Newark, NJ: $2,865 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $2,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
137

Cost of Living Index in Newark, NJ
Learn more

Newark, NJ Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Newark, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,865

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Newark, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Newark, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,865 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Newark, NJ $2,865

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,206 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Newark, NJ $4,206

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,546 in Newark, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Newark, NJ $5,546

Chicago, IL costs about 7% more than Newark, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Chicago, IL and Newark, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Newark, NJ by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$20.32 $20.32

0.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$102 $102

-12.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$14.46 $14.46

-11.13%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$6.68 $6.68

-13.47%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$3.86 $3.86

-29.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.46 $2.46

-8.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$7.87 $7.87

-12.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$9.91 $9.91

-6.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.37 $1.37

-8.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.60 $4.60

-22.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$7.73 $7.73

-30.40%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$6.00 $6.00

-24.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$7.04 $7.04

93.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$18.01 $18.01

-21.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$20.84 $20.84

-13.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$7.08 $7.08

-27.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.29 $2.29

-13.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$6.79 $6.79

-42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$6.74 $6.74

-28.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$4.61 $4.61

-39.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$4.86 $4.86

-45.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.00 $3.00

-31.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.73 $2.73

10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$11.46 $11.46

21.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$19.68 $19.68

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.92 $1.92

36.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.79 $2.79

23.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.91 $1.91

27.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$72.0 $72.0

4.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.08 $3.08

2.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.21 $2.21

-23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$38.70 $38.70

-35.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.08 $1.08

18.52%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.9K $27.9K

28.18%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.12%

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

$192 $192

$217 $217

-11.52%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$71.6 $71.6

-2.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$70.2 $70.2

-11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$15.28 $15.28

212.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$17.46 $17.46

55.21%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.59 $14.59

22.21%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$2,155 $2,155

-15.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$33.9K $33.9K

19.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$59.3 $59.3

11.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$27.50 $27.50

86.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$120 $120

-14.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$137 $137

4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$2,489 $2,489

1.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,321 $1,321

22.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$3,273 $3,273

47.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$2,028 $2,028

34.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$4,190 $4,190

-0.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$3,612 $3,612

-24.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$3,912 $3,912

25.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.68

1.50%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Newark, NJ: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Newark, NJ

$1.3K 46.1% 18.5% $300

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Newark, NJ

$521 18.2% 18.6% $82

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Newark, NJ

$371 12.9% 7.7% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Newark, NJ

$359 12.5% 10.8% $35

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Newark, NJ

$155 5.4% 5.4% $8.9

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Newark, NJ

$94 3.3% 3% $2.9

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Newark, NJ

$44 1.6% 46.7% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $2,489 in Newark, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $102 in Newark, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $521 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Newark, NJ

🕒 Local time

01:00 1:00 AM

02:00 2:00 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

311,549

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.888 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Newark, NJ 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Newark, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Newark, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,865 in Newark, NJ – Newark, NJ comes out roughly 7% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,297 in Newark, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,531 in Chicago, IL and $2,489 in Newark, NJ. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $102 in Newark, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,072 in Chicago, IL and $2,865 in Newark, NJ. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,865 in Newark, NJ to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Newark, NJ. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.