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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 11.8% more expensive than Paterson, NJ without rent, and 13% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 16.5% more expensive than Paterson, NJ without rent, and 1.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$16.74 $16.74

24.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$102 $102

-1.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.82 $11.82

1.27%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$6.02 $6.02

-7.64%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.3 $2.3

35.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.56 $1.56

55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.06 $7.06

-2.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.98 $6.98

21.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.32 $1.32

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.35 $4.35

-4.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$5.67 $5.67

-2.65%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$6.44 $6.44

-27.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$15.26 $15.26

-6.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.32 $10.32

44.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.75 $19.75

-2.08%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.62 $7.62

-32.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.44 $2.44

-29.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.29 $4.29

2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.12 $4.12

9.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$3.01 $3.01

-15.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.62 $2.62

4.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.74 $2.74

-11.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.56 $2.56

5.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.48 $17.48

-13.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$17.75 $17.75

-7.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.85 $1.85

27.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$4.51 $4.51

-17.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.98 $1.98

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.95 $4.95

-32.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.18 $2.18

-34.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.67 $42.67

-40.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.93 $0.93

16.13%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24K $24K

35.28%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

1.05%

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

$188 $188

$183 $183

3.11%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$53.6 $53.6

18.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$62.1 $62.1

5.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.53 $42.53

80.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$20.31 $20.31

-26.49%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,726 $1,726

19.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$15.8K $15.8K

148.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.4 $67.4

-4.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.04 $48.04

9.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$107 $107

-10.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$173 $173

-16.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,721 $2,721

-12.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,346 $1,346

17.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,678 $2,678

77.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,111 $3,111

-9.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,398 $2,398

49.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,092 $2,092

19.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,264 $3,264

61.61%

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 Paterson, NJ: October 27, 2025

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