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

🙂 Solo nomad: Elizabeth, NJ is 16.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Elizabeth, NJ is 3.4% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$20.82 $20.82

-2.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$100 $100

-2.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.82 $11.82

$11.97 $11.97

-1.25%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.56 $5.56

5.22%

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

$2.3 $2.3

$3.11 $3.11

-26.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.42 $2.42

-36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.8 $6.8

$6.86 $6.86

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.04 $7.04

$8.45 $8.45

-16.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.04 $1.04

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.15 $4.15

4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.5 $5.5

$5.52 $5.52

-0.36%

Eggs

$5.59 $5.59

$4.65 $4.65

20.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 $13.91

$14.33 $14.33

-2.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.65 $11.65

$14.88 $14.88

-21.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

$19.34 $19.34

-9.31%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 $5.66

$5.17 $5.17

9.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.71 $1.71

53.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.41 $4.41

-0.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.51 $4.51

-2.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.53 $2.53

19.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.74 $2.74

2.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.43 $2.43

17.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.7 $2.7

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.71 $14.71

$15.19 $15.19

-3.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 $14.76

$16.42 $16.42

-10.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.35 $2.35

4.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.7 $3.7

-1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.53 $2.53

10.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.2 $76.2

$74.1 $74.1

2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.34 $3.34

-7.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.42 $1.42

51.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.7 $42.7

$25.42 $25.42

67.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$23.3K $23.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

-28.28%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-6.07%

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

$218 $218

$188 $188

15.91%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$63.7 $63.7

-14.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.4 $58.4

$65.2 $65.2

-10.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.85 $24.85

$76.7 $76.7

-67.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$19.95 $19.95

$14.93 $14.93

33.62%

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

$1,745 $1,745

$2,063 $2,063

-15.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K $14.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-63.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.59 $49.59

$64.3 $64.3

-22.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.9 $58.9

$52.4 $52.4

12.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$95.2 $95.2

-8.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$145 $145

-12.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,113 $2,113

$2,378 $2,378

-11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,739 $1,739

$1,584 $1,584

9.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$4,763 $4,763

-43.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,479 $2,479

$2,815 $2,815

-11.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,757 $2,757

$3,588 $3,588

-23.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,432 $2,432

$2,490 $2,490

-2.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,269 $5,269

$5,275 $5,275

-0.11%

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 Elizabeth, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Singapore

🇸🇬 Singapore

Dublin

🇮🇪 Ireland

Paris

🇫🇷 France

Stockholm

🇸🇪 Sweden

Amsterdam

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Tel Aviv-Yafo

🇮🇱 Israel

Dallas, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Luxembourg

🇱🇺 Luxembourg