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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 19.9% more expensive than Piscataway, NJ without rent, and 2.9% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 20.6% more expensive than Piscataway, NJ without rent, and 5.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$15.18 $15.18

37.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.2 $79.2

26.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.43 $12.43

-3.70%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.39 $4.39

26.65%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.48 $2.48

25.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.47 $1.47

64.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.08 $6.08

12.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.78 $7.78

8.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.32 $1.32

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.69 $3.69

12.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.22 $3.22

71.43%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.54 $3.54

31.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$11 $11

30.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.2 $10.2

45.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$14.03 $14.03

37.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.56 $3.56

45.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.46 $1.46

17.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.33 $3.33

32.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.27 $4.27

5.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.93 $1.93

31.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.2 $2.2

24.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.02 $2.02

20.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.46 $1.46

84.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.05 $15.05

0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.84 $14.84

10.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.55 $2.55

-7.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.89 $2.89

28.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.03 $2.03

24.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$29.93 $29.93

147.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.07 $3.07

8.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.23 $2.23

-36.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.47 $42.47

-40.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

25.94%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$20.2K $20.2K

30.05%

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

$188 $188

$159 $159

18.40%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$55 $55

15.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$65.4 $65.4

-0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.81 $42.81

79.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.19 $15.19

-1.71%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,933 $1,933

6.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.2K $14.2K

175.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$40.25 $40.25

59.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$40.67 $40.67

28.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$80.5 $80.5

18.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$96.7 $96.7

49.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$2,175 $2,175

9.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,029 $2,029

-21.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$3,343 $3,343

42.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$3,278 $3,278

-14.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,839 $2,839

26.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,552 $2,552

-2.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$4,519 $4,519

16.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.33

23.83%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Piscataway, NJ: October 28, 2025

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