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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 4.4% more expensive than Rutherford, NJ without rent, and 12.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 0.5% more expensive than Rutherford, NJ without rent, and 16.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.81 $19.81
5.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$120 $120
-16.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.02 $12.02
-0.42%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.76 $5.76
-3.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.52 $2.52
23.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.62 $1.62
49.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.86 $6.86
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.2 $7.2
17.36%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.26 $1.26
-17.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.46 $4.46
-6.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.69 $5.69
-2.99%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.4 $5.4
-13.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$14 $14
2.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.47 $10.47
42.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.34 $15.34
26.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.59 $5.59
-7.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.63 $2.63
-34.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.19 $4.19
5.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.26 $4.26
5.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.11 $3.11
-18.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.66 $2.66
3.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.66 $2.66
-8.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.77 $2.77
-2.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$15.09 $15.09
0.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.73 $14.73
11.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.84 $1.84
27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.51 $3.51
5.41%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.02 $3.02
10.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.14 $2.14
-33.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.35 $41.35
-38.52%
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
$24K $24K
35.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24K $24K
9.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
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
$53.8 $53.8
18.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$69.8 $69.8
-6.55%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.66 $43.66
75.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$19.97 $19.97
-25.24%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,776 $1,776
16.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$14.4K $14.4K
171.27%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$49.95 $49.95
28.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$59.4 $59.4
-11.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87.1 $87.1
9.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$96.7 $96.7
49.60%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,604 $1,604
48.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,346 $1,346
17.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,665 $2,665
78.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,236 $2,236
25.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,770 $2,770
29.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,773 $2,773
-10.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Rutherford, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.7
-1.49%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rutherford, NJ: October 29, 2025

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