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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,649 in Princeton, NJ, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,408 in Princeton, NJ, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $7,168 in Princeton, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL is about 15% cheaper than Princeton, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Princeton, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Princeton, NJ by 174%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$17.17 $17.17

17.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$78.9 $78.9

28.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$14.88 $14.88

-18.75%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$5.10 $5.10

12.75%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.49 $2.49

19.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.24 $2.24

9.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$8.03 $8.03

-12.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$7.81 $7.81

5.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.12 $1.12

-3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.99 $3.99

3.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$8.99 $8.99

-40.16%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$4.12 $4.12

9.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$25.21 $25.21

-43.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$23.79 $23.79

-36.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$23.22 $23.22

-18.86%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$6.70 $6.70

-23.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.57 $2.57

-33.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$5.46 $5.46

-22.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$6.14 $6.14

-27.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.81 $2.81

-8.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$3.73 $3.73

-26.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.36 $2.36

6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.94 $2.94

-10.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$11.21 $11.21

33.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$15.04 $15.04

1.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.71 $1.71

43.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$6.19 $6.19

-39.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.23 $2.23

11.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

$200 $200

-63.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$5.82 $5.82

-43.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.33 $1.33

2.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$42.12 $42.12

-40.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.90 $0.90

16.67%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$30.0K $30.0K

8.76%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.90%

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

$187 $187

$182 $182

3.14%

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

$63.6 $63.6

$50.3 $50.3

26.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$54.9 $54.9

20.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$175 $175

-56.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

$31.92 $31.92

-59.52%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

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

$2,029 $2,029

$1,878 $1,878

8.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$40.0K $40.0K

-3.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$37.62 $37.62

68.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$24.37 $24.37

113.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$140 $140

-31.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$202 $202

-26.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$2,696 $2,696

-13.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$1,930 $1,930

-15.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$4,680 $4,680

-1.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$3,139 $3,139

-11.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$5,676 $5,676

-30.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$3,509 $3,509

-26.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

$6,051 $6,051

-14.46%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Princeton, NJ: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $2,696 in Princeton, NJ. 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 17% higher in Princeton, NJ, 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 $101 in Chicago, IL versus $79.0 in Princeton, NJ. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Chicago, IL vs $581 in Princeton, NJ – 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 Princeton, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $3,649 in Princeton, NJ – roughly 17% apart. Princeton, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,473 in Princeton, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 30% more in Princeton, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL and $79.0 in Princeton, NJ. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,117 in Chicago, IL and $3,649 in Princeton, NJ. 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL to $3,649 in Princeton, NJ. 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 Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Princeton, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.