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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 28.3% more expensive than Summit, NJ without rent, and 12.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 6% cheaper than Summit, NJ without rent, and 15.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$20.11 $20.11
3.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$101 $101
-0.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$13.81 $13.81
-13.32%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.07 $5.07
9.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.46 $2.46
26.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.05 $2.05
18.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$8.04 $8.04
-14.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.82 $7.82
8.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.28 $1.28
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.88 $3.88
6.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.35 $5.35
3.18%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.22 $4.22
10.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$25.02 $25.02
-42.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$12 $12
24.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$17.47 $17.47
10.70%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$7.22 $7.22
-28.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.72 $1.72
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.05 $4.05
8.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.11 $4.11
9.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.67 $2.67
-5.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.81 $3.81
-28.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.48 $2.48
-2.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.68 $2.68
0.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$11.06 $11.06
37.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$19.05 $19.05
-13.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.78 $1.78
32.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$6.34 $6.34
-41.64%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
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
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.07 $3.07
8.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.01 $2.01
-29.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.39 $24.39
4.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.93 $0.93
16.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.5K $30.5K
6.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.35%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$180 $180
4.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$49.57 $49.57
28.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$54.7 $54.7
19.17%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$42.46 $42.46
80.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$14.88 $14.88
0.34%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,861 $1,861
10.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24K $24K
63.40%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$71 $71
-9.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$55.1 $55.1
-4.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$74.8 $74.8
27.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$136 $136
6.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,780 $2,780
-14.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,348 $1,348
17.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$5,506 $5,506
-13.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,221 $2,221
26.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,670 $2,670
34.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,623 $2,623
-5.06%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Summit, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.55
0.76%

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 Summit, NJ: October 29, 2025

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