Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West New York, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and West New York, NJ

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.2% more expensive than West New York, NJ without rent, and 14% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 1.4% more expensive than West New York, NJ without rent, and 19.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$17.18 $17.18
21.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$101 $101
-0.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$11.78 $11.78
1.61%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.14 $5.14
8.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.36 $2.36
31.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.13 $1.13
114.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.09 $6.09
12.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.92 $6.92
22.11%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.25 $1.25
-16.80%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.28 $4.28
-3.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.61 $5.61
-1.60%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$5.02 $5.02
-7.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.74 $13.74
4.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$10.41 $10.41
42.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$20.02 $20.02
-3.40%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.57 $5.57
-7.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.54 $1.54
11.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.28 $4.28
3.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.24 $4.24
6.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.13 $3.13
-19.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.58 $2.58
6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.75 $2.75
-11.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.94 $1.94
39.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$12.23 $12.23
24.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.29 $15.29
7.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.86 $1.86
26.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$4.47 $4.47
-17.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.52 $3.52
-28.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$125 $125
-40.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.08 $3.08
8.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$2.2 $2.2
-35.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$42.31 $42.31
-39.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.78 $0.78
38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$23.4K $23.4K
38.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.1K $25.1K
4.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$85.9 $85.9
119.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$50.8 $50.8
25.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$58.6 $58.6
11.22%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$29.55 $29.55
159.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$19.69 $19.69
-24.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,727 $1,727
19.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$16.1K $16.1K
143.04%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$49.55 $49.55
29.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$80.9 $80.9
-35.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$87 $87
9.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$98.7 $98.7
46.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,830 $1,830
29.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,358 $1,358
16.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,621 $2,621
81.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,188 $2,188
28.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,751 $2,751
30.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,554 $2,554
-2.49%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
West New York, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$5,283 $5,283
-0.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.36
3.77%

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 New York, NJ: October 28, 2025

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