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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 1.3% more expensive than Trenton, NJ without rent, and 5.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.9% more expensive than Trenton, NJ without rent, and 11.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$29.46 $29.46

-29.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$81.1 $81.1

23.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$14.88 $14.88

-19.56%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$5.34 $5.34

4.12%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$2.93 $2.93

6.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.67 $2.67

-9.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$8.14 $8.14

-15.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.98 $7.98

5.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.13 $1.13

-7.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$4.13 $4.13

0.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$8.27 $8.27

-33.25%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$4.2 $4.2

10.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$17.58 $17.58

-18.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.38 $16.38

-9.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.07 $20.07

-3.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$7.43 $7.43

-30.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.55 $2.55

-32.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.39 $5.39

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$6.43 $6.43

-29.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.8 $2.8

-9.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.7 $3.7

-25.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.52 $2.52

-3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.47 $2.47

9.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$10.99 $10.99

38.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$7.9 $7.9

107.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.75 $1.75

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.71 $3.71

-0.27%

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

$5.11 $5.11

-34.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.13 $2.13

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$42.8 $42.8

-40.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.91 $0.91

18.68%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.6K $29.6K

9.43%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.34%

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

$188 $188

$182 $182

3.36%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$59.6 $59.6

6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$61.9 $61.9

5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$42.71 $42.71

79.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$14.95 $14.95

-0.13%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,891 $1,891

9.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$39.5K $39.5K

-0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$67.4 $67.4

-4.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$47.36 $47.36

10.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$142 $142

-33.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$172 $172

-15.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,613 $1,613

47.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,353 $1,353

17.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,579 $2,579

84.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,201 $2,201

27.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$3,146 $3,146

14.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$3,133 $3,133

-20.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,729 $3,729

41.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.55

0.76%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Trenton, NJ: October 28, 2025

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