Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Perth Amboy, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Perth Amboy, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 15.1% more expensive than Perth Amboy, NJ without rent, and 16.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 26.9% more expensive than Perth Amboy, NJ without rent, and 23% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.69 $19.69
5.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$80.7 $80.7
24.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$15.25 $15.25
-21.51%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.08 $5.08
9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.55 $2.55
21.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.96 $1.96
23.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$7.9 $7.9
-13.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.8 $7.8
8.33%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.14 $1.14
-8.77%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.25 $2.25
84.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$9.34 $9.34
-40.90%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.96 $2.96
57.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$12.02 $12.02
19.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.45 $11.45
29.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$23.18 $23.18
-16.57%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.55 $7.55
-31.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.51 $2.51
-31.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.46 $5.46
-19.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$6.15 $6.15
-26.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.4 $1.4
80.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.44 $1.44
90.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.52 $1.52
59.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.97 $2.97
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.1 $11.1
36.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$12.09 $12.09
35.81%
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
$6.2 $6.2
-40.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.04 $2.04
24.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$6.12 $6.12
-45.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.65 $1.65
-13.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.63 $42.63
-40.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.85 $0.85
27.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$29.4K $29.4K
10.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.1K $27.1K
-3.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$181 $181
3.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$23.94 $23.94
166.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$55.2 $55.2
18.05%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.23 $43.23
77.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.84 $14.84
0.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,836 $1,836
12.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$39.4K $39.4K
-0.45%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$32.5 $32.5
97.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$55.9 $55.9
-6.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$76.4 $76.4
24.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$95.7 $95.7
51.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,612 $1,612
47.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,355 $1,355
16.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,591 $2,591
83.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,201 $2,201
27.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,813 $2,813
27.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,208 $2,208
12.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Perth Amboy, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,419 $3,419
54.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Perth Amboy, NJ: October 28, 2025

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