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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Edison, NJ is 2.6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Edison, NJ is 8.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.9 $19.9
$20.82 $20.82
-4.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 $80.8
$100 $100
-19.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.59 $12.59
$11.97 $11.97
5.18%
Cappuccino
$5.19 $5.19
$5.56 $5.56
-6.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$3.11 $3.11
-20.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.42 $2.42
-12.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.78 $7.78
$6.86 $6.86
13.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$8.45 $8.45
-3.79%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.04 $1.04
16.35%
White Bread (500g)
$3.97 $3.97
$4.15 $4.15
-4.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.18 $6.18
$5.52 $5.52
11.96%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$4.65 $4.65
-7.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.69 $13.69
$14.33 $14.33
-4.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$14.88 $14.88
-16.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.35 $15.35
$19.34 $19.34
-20.63%
Apples (1kg)
$6.21 $6.21
$5.17 $5.17
20.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.71 $1.71
50.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$4.41 $4.41
23.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.51 $4.51
31.49%
Potato (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$2.53 $2.53
75.49%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$2.74 $2.74
58.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.43 $2.43
2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.7 $2.7
-15.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.19 $11.19
$15.19 $15.19
-26.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 $18.64
$16.42 $16.42
13.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 $3.59
$3.7 $3.7
-2.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.82 $5.82
$2.53 $2.53
130.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$201 $201
$74.1 $74.1
171.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.34 $3.34
-11.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.42 $1.42
-32.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.33 $42.33
$25.42 $25.42
66.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
-20.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.05%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 $178
$188 $188
-5.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.6 $60.6
$63.7 $63.7
-4.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$65.2 $65.2
6.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.36 $22.36
$76.7 $76.7
-70.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.78 $14.78
$14.93 $14.93
-1.00%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,831 $1,831
$2,063 $2,063
-11.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K $14.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-63.17%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 $61.9
$64.3 $64.3
-3.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 $55.4
$52.4 $52.4
5.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 $113
$95.2 $95.2
18.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$145 $145
-9.56%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 $2,106
$2,378 $2,378
-11.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,829 $1,829
$1,584 $1,584
15.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,160 $3,160
$4,763 $4,763
-33.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,745 $2,745
$2,815 $2,815
-2.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,548 $2,548
$3,588 $3,588
-29.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,739 $2,739
$2,490 $2,490
10.00%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Edison, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,422 $6,422
$5,275 $5,275
21.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Edison, NJ: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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