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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 26.2% more expensive than Ramsey, NJ without rent, and 14.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 12.7% more expensive than Ramsey, NJ without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.67 $19.67

5.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$119 $119

-15.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.03 $12.03

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.7 $5.7

-2.46%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.8 $2.8

11.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.11 $2.11

14.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.22 $8.22

-16.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$8.18 $8.18

3.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.44 $1.44

-27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.4 $4.4

-5.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$6.46 $6.46

-14.55%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.4 $5.4

-13.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.51 $13.51

6.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.51 $12.51

18.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.39 $13.39

44.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.88 $5.88

-12.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.62 $1.62

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.84 $5.84

-24.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.22 $6.22

-27.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.77 $2.77

-8.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.81 $4.81

-43.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.7 $2.7

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.36 $2.36

14.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$12.11 $12.11

25.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.18 $15.18

8.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.58 $2.58

-8.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.56 $3.56

3.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.19 $2.19

-35.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.67 $42.67

-40.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.96 $0.96

12.50%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.9K $24.9K

30.21%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.36%

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

$188 $188

$122 $122

53.85%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$58.8 $58.8

8.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.2 $61.2

6.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.34 $43.34

77.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$19.88 $19.88

-24.90%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,876 $1,876

9.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.1K $14.1K

178.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$19.62 $19.62

227.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$59.5 $59.5

-11.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$30.4 $30.4

213.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$98.1 $98.1

47.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$3,345 $3,345

-28.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,373 $1,373

15.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,597 $2,597

83.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,246 $2,246

25.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,552 $2,552

40.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,442 $2,442

1.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.51

1.38%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Ramsey, NJ: October 28, 2025

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