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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cranford, NJ is 21.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Cranford, NJ is 20.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.86 $18.86

$20.82 $20.82

-9.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.8 $75.8

$100 $100

-24.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.16 $11.16

$11.97 $11.97

-6.77%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.56 $5.56

-8.09%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$3.11 $3.11

-19.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.42 $2.42

-15.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$6.86 $6.86

-11.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$8.45 $8.45

-17.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.04 $1.04

19.23%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.15 $4.15

-16.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.52 $5.52

-20.47%

Eggs

$4.31 $4.31

$4.65 $4.65

-7.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.46 $12.46

$14.33 $14.33

-13.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.7 $11.7

$14.88 $14.88

-21.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.41 $15.41

$19.34 $19.34

-20.32%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$5.17 $5.17

-2.13%

Banana (1kg)

$2.3 $2.3

$1.71 $1.71

34.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.41 $4.41

-4.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$4.51 $4.51

2.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.53 $2.53

15.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.74 $2.74

4.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.43 $2.43

-13.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$2.7 $2.7

-21.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.76 $9.76

$15.19 $15.19

-35.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.22 $14.22

$16.42 $16.42

-13.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.35 $2.35

-21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.3 $3.3

$3.7 $3.7

-10.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.6 $3.6

$3.34 $3.34

7.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.42 $1.42

11.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.67 $29.67

$25.42 $25.42

16.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.08 $1.08

-19.44%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-9.77%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-2.25%

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

$188 $188

-0.37%

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

$52 $52

$63.7 $63.7

-18.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69 $69

$65.2 $65.2

5.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.86 $40.86

$76.7 $76.7

-46.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$13.47 $13.47

$14.93 $14.93

-9.78%

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

$1,289 $1,289

$2,063 $2,063

-37.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$39.2K $39.2K

-41.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 $51.8

$64.3 $64.3

-19.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.48 $40.48

$52.4 $52.4

-22.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 $85.2

$95.2 $95.2

-10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$145 $145

-23.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,632 $1,632

$2,378 $2,378

-31.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,357 $1,357

$1,584 $1,584

-14.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 $3,639

$4,763 $4,763

-23.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,207 $2,207

$2,815 $2,815

-21.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,795 $2,795

$3,588 $3,588

-22.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,427 $2,427

$2,490 $2,490

-2.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.6

-1.36%

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

Last update for Cranford, NJ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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