Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Old Bridge Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Old Bridge

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,529 in Old Bridge, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,637 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,692 in Old Bridge, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,191 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,855 in Old Bridge, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 22% more than Old Bridge, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Old Bridge sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 131%, Old Bridge by 89%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$17.26 $17.26

20.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$66.0 $66.0

49.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$8.12 $8.12

46.55%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$2.92 $2.92

100.00%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.62 $2.62

17.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.08 $2.08

12.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.07 $3.07

123.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$3.59 $3.59

124.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.52 $1.52

-30.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.66 $4.66

-14.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$6.39 $6.39

-12.36%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.37 $5.37

-15.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$13.56 $13.56

4.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$12.32 $12.32

20.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.16 $15.16

25.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$6.02 $6.02

-11.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.63 $5.63

-24.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$6.17 $6.17

-29.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.88 $2.88

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.86 $4.86

-42.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.64 $2.64

-6.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.40 $2.40

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$15.16 $15.16

-1.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$14.88 $14.88

-1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.58 $2.58

-8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.63 $3.63

-1.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.95 $1.95

25.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.06 $3.06

9.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.21 $2.21

-38.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$41.62 $41.62

-39.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.98 $0.98

11.22%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

28.06%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.0K $24.0K

10.04%

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

$188 $188

$163 $163

15.76%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$30.46 $30.46

107.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$45.13 $45.13

46.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$42.49 $42.49

77.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$20.26 $20.26

-26.95%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$1,879 $1,879

11.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$14.5K $14.5K

165.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$31.39 $31.39

106.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$58.2 $58.2

-11.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$69.9 $69.9

37.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$100 $100

46.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,617 $1,617

44.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$1,378 $1,378

14.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$2,589 $2,589

84.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$2,215 $2,215

23.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

$2,538 $2,538

58.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,679 $2,679

0.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$3,016 $3,016

65.16%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Old Bridge: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $1,617 in Old Bridge. 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 65% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $66.0 in Old Bridge. Groceries tell a different story – $445 in Chicago, IL vs $457 in Old Bridge – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Old Bridge: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL, $2,529 in Old Bridge – roughly 22% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,626 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,794 in Old Bridge. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Old Bridge, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $66.0 in Old Bridge. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,084 in Chicago, IL and $2,529 in Old Bridge. 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 $2,529 in Old Bridge to $3,084 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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