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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.3% cheaper than Somerset, NJ without rent, and 26.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 11.1% more expensive than Somerset, NJ without rent, and 17.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$20.16 $20.16

3.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$79.4 $79.4

26.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$12.36 $12.36

-3.16%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.07 $5.07

9.66%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.44 $2.44

27.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.56 $2.56

-5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$7.98 $7.98

-14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$9.96 $9.96

-15.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.12 $1.12

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.95 $3.95

5.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$8.16 $8.16

-32.35%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.15 $4.15

12.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.5 $17.5

-18.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.66 $16.66

-10.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$19.8 $19.8

-2.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.45 $7.45

-30.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.43 $2.43

-29.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.36 $5.36

-17.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.13 $6.13

-26.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.81 $2.81

-9.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.71 $3.71

-26.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.53 $2.53

-3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.56 $2.56

5.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.81 $10.81

40.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$19.05 $19.05

-13.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.74 $1.74

35.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.89 $3.89

-4.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.04 $2.04

24.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.92 $4.92

-32.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.65 $1.65

-13.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.73 $42.73

-40.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.9 $0.9

20.00%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.9K $29.9K

8.33%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

-0.51%

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

$188 $188

$178 $178

5.58%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$49.61 $49.61

28.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$56.3 $56.3

15.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.32 $42.32

81.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.92 $14.92

0.07%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,825 $1,825

12.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.8K $39.8K

-1.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67 $67

-4.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$48.4 $48.4

8.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$115 $115

-17.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$172 $172

-15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,582 $1,582

50.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$2,672 $2,672

-40.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,585 $2,585

84.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,257 $2,257

24.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,738 $2,738

31.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,424 $2,424

2.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$5,080 $5,080

3.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Somerset, NJ: October 28, 2025

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