Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Caldwell, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West Caldwell, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 33% more expensive than West Caldwell, NJ without rent, and 24.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 13.6% more expensive than West Caldwell, NJ without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.12 $17.12

21.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.6 $75.6

32.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$13.07 $13.07

-8.42%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.93 $4.93

12.78%

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

$2.21 $2.21

9.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.95 $5.95

15.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.05 $7.05

19.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.18 $1.18

-11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$6.21 $6.21

-33.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$9.05 $9.05

-39.01%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.75 $5.75

-19.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.91 $9.91

44.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$10.48 $10.48

41.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$18.01 $18.01

7.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$6.58 $6.58

-21.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.24 $2.24

-23.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.5 $4.5

-2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.95 $4.95

-8.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$4.36 $4.36

-41.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.46 $4.46

-38.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.49 $2.49

-2.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.22 $2.22

21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.4 $13.4

13.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$15.29 $15.29

7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.82 $1.82

29.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.61 $3.61

2.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.94 $1.94

30.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.17 $6.17

-45.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.37 $1.37

3.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$28.81 $28.81

-11.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.23%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.47%

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

$188 $188

$75.1 $75.1

150.77%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$43.93 $43.93

45.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$56.5 $56.5

15.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$43.61 $43.61

75.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$12.7 $12.7

17.56%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$1,413 $1,413

45.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.3K $23.3K

68.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$37.27 $37.27

72.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$24.34 $24.34

115.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$75.5 $75.5

26.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$71.3 $71.3

102.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,599 $1,599

48.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,375 $1,375

15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,594 $2,594

83.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,209 $2,209

27.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,881 $2,881

24.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,648 $2,648

-5.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,027 $3,027

74.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: October 26, 2025

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