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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 23.7% more expensive than Ridgewood, NJ without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 9.1% more expensive than Ridgewood, NJ without rent, and 19.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.79 $17.79

17.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$77.9 $77.9

28.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.6 $12.6

-5.00%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.22 $5.22

6.51%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.7 $2.7

15.19%

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

$6.49 $6.49

5.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.58 $6.58

28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.44 $1.44

-27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.3 $4.3

-3.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$4.38 $4.38

26.03%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.56 $3.56

30.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$13.72 $13.72

4.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.07 $7.07

110.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$11.21 $11.21

72.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.02 $5.02

2.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.55 $1.55

10.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$3.67 $3.67

20.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$5.46 $5.46

-17.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.78 $4.78

-47.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.51 $4.51

-39.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.64 $2.64

-7.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.27 $2.27

18.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$11.29 $11.29

34.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.22 $15.22

7.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.53 $2.53

-7.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.47 $3.47

6.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.96 $1.96

29.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$40.45 $40.45

83.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.96 $2.96

12.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.25 $1.25

13.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.63 $42.63

-40.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

27.16%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.2K $24.2K

8.54%

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

$188 $188

$163 $163

15.77%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.4 $59.4

7.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$68.2 $68.2

-4.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$58.5 $58.5

31.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$40.21 $40.21

-67.60%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$18.63 $18.63

-19.86%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,893 $1,893

8.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$14.3K $14.3K

173.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$60.4 $60.4

6.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$54.9 $54.9

-4.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$84.1 $84.1

13.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$113 $113

28.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,605 $1,605

48.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,366 $1,366

15.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$4,317 $4,317

10.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,251 $2,251

25.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,477 $2,477

44.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,675 $2,675

-6.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,029 $5,029

4.88%

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 Ridgewood, NJ: October 28, 2025

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