Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Toms River, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Toms River, NJ: $2,884 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
138

Cost of Living Index in Toms River, NJ
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Toms River, NJ Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Toms River, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,884

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,884 in Toms River, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Toms River, NJ $2,884

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,311 in Toms River, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Toms River, NJ $4,311

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $5,738 in Toms River, NJ, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Toms River, NJ $5,738

Chicago, IL costs about 5% more than Toms River, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Toms River, NJ sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Toms River, NJ by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$19.87 $19.87

4.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$74.2 $74.2

20.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$12.05 $12.05

9.46%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.53 $5.53

2.35%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.57 $2.57

2.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.86 $1.86

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.03 $5.03

36.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.89 $6.89

28.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.41 $1.41

-11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$4.61 $4.61

-19.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$2.42 $2.42

122.73%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.61 $4.61

2.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$16.29 $16.29

-15.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$16.95 $16.95

-15.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$16.81 $16.81

9.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.98 $5.98

-12.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.30 $1.30

52.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.15 $5.15

-21.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.92 $5.92

-16.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.58 $1.58

68.99%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.74 $2.74

-2.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.53 $2.53

-11.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.94 $1.94

61.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$9.84 $9.84

40.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.09 $10.09

47.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.80 $2.80

-9.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$3.42 $3.42

2.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.99 $2.99

6.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.13 $2.13

-34.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$41.41 $41.41

-39.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.92 $0.92

30.43%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$30.8K $30.8K

13.90%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.77%

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

$194 $194

$243 $243

-19.84%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$37.24 $37.24

86.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$62.0 $62.0

-0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$30.15 $30.15

58.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$17.15 $17.15

3.85%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$3,103 $3,103

-42.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.4K $34.4K

-7.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$69.8 $69.8

-3.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$75.8 $75.8

-31.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$120 $120

-15.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$121 $121

18.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,617 $1,617

56.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,527 $1,527

3.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,900 $2,900

63.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$2,766 $2,766

-2.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$5,268 $5,268

-6.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.67

2.10%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Toms River, NJ: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Toms River, NJ

$1.5K 53% 3.2% $51

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Toms River, NJ

$445 15.4% 0.5% $2.4

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Toms River, NJ

$318 11% 7.8% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Toms River, NJ

$342 11.9% 5% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Toms River, NJ

$174 6% 6.3% $10

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Toms River, NJ

$14 * 0.5% 85.4% $80

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Toms River, NJ

$64 2.2% 22.8% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,617 in Toms River, NJ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Toms River, NJ, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $74 in Toms River, NJ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $445 – making Toms River, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Toms River, NJ

🕒 Local time

01:29 1:29 AM

02:29 2:29 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

95,438

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Toms River, NJ 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Toms River, 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 Toms River, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,884 in Toms River, NJ – Toms River, NJ comes out roughly 5% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $4,326 in Toms River, NJ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Toms River, NJ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,617 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Kindergarten costs $1,794 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,103 in Toms River, NJ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,884 in Toms River, NJ. That makes Toms River, NJ about 5% cheaper.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,884 in Toms River, 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 $2,884 in Toms River, NJ to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.