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

🙂 Solo nomad: Clifton, NJ is 7.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Clifton, NJ is 12.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.93 $19.93
$20.82 $20.82
-4.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$100 $100
1.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.2 $12.2
$11.97 $11.97
1.92%
Cappuccino
$6.02 $6.02
$5.56 $5.56
8.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 $2.31
$3.11 $3.11
-25.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.42 $2.42
-31.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.91 $6.91
$6.86 $6.86
0.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.09 $7.09
$8.45 $8.45
-16.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.04 $1.04
24.04%
White Bread (500g)
$4.28 $4.28
$4.15 $4.15
3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.61 $5.61
$5.52 $5.52
1.63%
Eggs
$6.48 $6.48
$4.65 $4.65
39.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.8 $12.8
$14.33 $14.33
-10.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.48 $10.48
$14.88 $14.88
-29.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.8 $19.8
$19.34 $19.34
2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$5.76 $5.76
$5.17 $5.17
11.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.71 $1.71
45.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$4.41 $4.41
-1.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$4.51 $4.51
13.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.53 $2.53
19.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.74 $2.74
-7.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.43 $2.43
13.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.7 $2.7
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.3 $17.3
$15.19 $15.19
13.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.16 $18.16
$16.42 $16.42
10.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 $3.77
$3.7 $3.7
1.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.53 $2.53
9.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.34 $3.34
-9.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.42 $1.42
49.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.81 $42.81
$25.42 $25.42
68.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.08 $1.08
-12.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K $31.7K
$32.4K $32.4K
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 $213
$188 $188
13.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53 $53
$63.7 $63.7
-16.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$65.2 $65.2
-2.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.84 $20.84
$76.7 $76.7
-72.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.07 $20.07
$14.93 $14.93
34.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,769 $1,769
$2,063 $2,063
-14.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$39.2K $39.2K
-58.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50 $50
$64.3 $64.3
-22.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.08 $20.08
$52.4 $52.4
-61.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
$95.2 $95.2
-5.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$145 $145
18.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,732 $1,732
$2,378 $2,378
-27.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 $1,668
$1,584 $1,584
5.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,678 $2,678
$4,763 $4,763
-43.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,161 $2,161
$2,815 $2,815
-23.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,810 $2,810
$3,588 $3,588
-21.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,363 $2,363
$2,490 $2,490
-5.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Clifton, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,377 $4,377
$5,275 $5,275
-17.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%

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

Last update for Clifton, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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