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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 10.2% more expensive than Passaic, NJ without rent, and 8.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.7% more expensive than Passaic, NJ without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.93 $16.93

22.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$99.8 $99.8

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.1 $12.1

-1.07%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.98 $5.98

-7.02%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.36 $2.36

31.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.59 $1.59

52.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.87 $6.87

-0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.88 $6.88

22.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.28 $1.28

-18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.2 $4.2

-1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.69 $5.69

-2.99%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.69 $6.69

-30.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.65 $17.65

-18.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.4 $10.4

43.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.58 $19.58

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.8 $5.8

-10.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.55 $2.55

-32.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.16 $4.16

6.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.44 $4.44

1.58%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.69 $3.69

-31.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.95 $3.95

-30.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.08 $3.08

-21.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.39 $17.39

-12.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$18.22 $18.22

-9.88%

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

$3.82 $3.82

-3.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$122 $122

-39.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.05 $3.05

9.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.11 $2.11

-32.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$41.41 $41.41

-38.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.98 $0.98

10.20%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$23.8K $23.8K

36.01%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

3.12%

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

$188 $188

$185 $185

1.75%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$54.6 $54.6

16.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$57.8 $57.8

12.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.31 $42.31

81.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$19.71 $19.71

-24.25%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,481 $1,481

39.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$16.2K $16.2K

141.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$50.3 $50.3

27.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.42 $48.42

8.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$87.3 $87.3

9.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$99.4 $99.4

45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,571 $1,571

51.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,338 $1,338

18.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,678 $2,678

77.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,204 $2,204

27.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,015 $3,015

19.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,134 $2,134

16.70%

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 Passaic, NJ: October 27, 2025

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