Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,037 a month against $3,962 in Somerset, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Somerset, NJ outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
190

Cost of Living Index in Somerset, NJ
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Somerset, NJ Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Somerset, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$3,962

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Somerset, NJ

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Somerset, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,962 in Somerset, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Somerset, NJ $3,962

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,428 in Somerset, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Somerset, NJ $4,428

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,895 in Somerset, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Somerset, NJ $4,895

Chicago, IL is about 23% cheaper than Somerset, NJ.

Both Chicago, IL and Somerset, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Somerset, NJ by 191%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$17.73 $17.73

16.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$39.35 $39.35

126.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$7.91 $7.91

66.75%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.03 $5.03

12.52%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$1.96 $1.96

34.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.54 $1.54

48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$8.18 $8.18

-16.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.96 $6.96

27.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.26 $1.26

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.47 $4.47

-16.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.95 $5.95

-9.41%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.05 $2.05

131.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$13.03 $13.03

6.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$10.40 $10.40

38.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$20.19 $20.19

-8.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.94 $5.94

-12.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.48 $3.48

-43.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.22 $4.22

-3.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.43 $5.43

-8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.12 $3.12

-14.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.06 $3.06

-13.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.45 $2.45

-8.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.05 $3.05

2.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$15.01 $15.01

-7.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.77 $14.77

0.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.85 $1.85

37.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.47 $3.47

1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.06 $2.06

17.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

$67.2 $67.2

9.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.92 $2.92

8.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.21 $2.21

-37.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$41.53 $41.53

-39.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.09 $1.09

10.09%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.9K $27.9K

25.42%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.29%

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

$194 $194

$169 $169

14.75%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$51.7 $51.7

34.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$50.5 $50.5

22.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$40.94 $40.94

17.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$20.65 $20.65

-13.75%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$2,040 $2,040

-12.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$15.7K $15.7K

103.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$49.81 $49.81

34.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$40.80 $40.80

27.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$85.8 $85.8

18.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$104 $104

37.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,581 $1,581

59.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$2,655 $2,655

-40.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,533 $2,533

87.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,142 $2,142

25.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$2,682 $2,682

56.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

$2,400 $2,400

15.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.8

0.15%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Somerset, NJ: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Somerset, NJ

$2.7K 67% 68.2% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Somerset, NJ

$443 11.2% 0.9% $4.2

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Somerset, NJ

$295 7.4% 14.6% $50

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Somerset, NJ

$272 6.9% 16.6% $54

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Somerset, NJ

$126 3.2% 22.9% $38

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Somerset, NJ

$89 2.3% 4.3% $4

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Somerset, NJ

$82 2.1% 1.5% $1.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,581 in Somerset, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $39 in Somerset, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $443 – making Somerset, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Somerset, NJ

🕒 Local time

20:24 8:24 PM

21:24 9:24 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

11,924

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Somerset, NJ 1,110 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Somerset, NJ

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Somerset, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $5,943 in Somerset, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Somerset, NJ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,581 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $39 in Somerset, NJ. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Somerset, NJ. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $3,962 in Somerset, 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 $3,037 in Chicago, IL to $3,962 in Somerset, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.