Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and North Brunswick, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and North Brunswick, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.8% more expensive than North Brunswick, NJ without rent, and 17% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.4% more expensive than North Brunswick, NJ without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.34 $19.34

7.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$73.6 $73.6

36.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$10.91 $10.91

9.72%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.07 $5.07

9.66%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.6 $2.6

19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.95 $1.95

24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.15 $6.15

11.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.83 $6.83

23.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.58 $3.58

15.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.33 $4.33

27.48%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.28 $4.28

8.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$12.28 $12.28

16.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.44 $11.44

30.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.24 $15.24

26.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.83 $4.83

7.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.17 $4.17

5.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.74 $4.74

-4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.79 $2.79

-9.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.78 $2.78

-1.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.05 $2.05

18.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$9.57 $9.57

58.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$13.44 $13.44

22.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.77 $1.77

32.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.38 $3.38

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.01 $2.01

25.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.48 $3.48

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.59 $1.59

-10.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.1 $29.1

-12.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$30.1K $30.1K

7.80%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26K $26K

1.02%

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

$188 $188

$191 $191

-1.62%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.8 $53.8

18.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$67.3 $67.3

-3.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.84 $42.84

79.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$13.56 $13.56

10.10%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,305 $1,305

58.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.8K $23.8K

64.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$51.3 $51.3

25.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$39.88 $39.88

31.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.3 $87.3

9.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

27.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,592 $1,592

49.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,336 $1,336

18.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,647 $2,647

79.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,245 $2,245

25.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,524 $2,524

42.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,708 $2,708

-8.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for North Brunswick, NJ: October 28, 2025

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