Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Elizabeth, NJ and in Chicago, IL: $3,186 and $3,139 a month, rent and utilities included.

156

Cost of Living Index in Elizabeth, NJ
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Elizabeth, NJ Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Elizabeth, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$3,186

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Elizabeth, NJ and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Elizabeth, NJ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,186 per month in Elizabeth, NJ vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Elizabeth, NJ $3,186
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,453 per month in Elizabeth, NJ vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Elizabeth, NJ $4,453
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,720 per month in Elizabeth, NJ vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Elizabeth, NJ $5,720
Chicago, IL $6,115

Elizabeth, NJ costs about 1% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Elizabeth, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Elizabeth, NJ by 135%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.71 $19.71

$20.65 $20.65

-4.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.4 $80.4

$90.2 $90.2

-10.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$12.94 $12.94

-8.11%

Cappuccino

$5.45 $5.45

$5.60 $5.60

-2.68%

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

$2.43 $2.43

$2.64 $2.64

-7.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.27 $2.27

-34.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.78 $7.78

$6.98 $6.98

11.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.15 $7.15

$8.83 $8.83

-19.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 $4.50

$3.80 $3.80

18.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$5.30 $5.30

12.45%

Eggs

$6.52 $6.52

$4.76 $4.76

36.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 $15.31

$13.96 $13.96

9.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.83 $11.83

$14.61 $14.61

-19.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.73 $19.73

$18.77 $18.77

5.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.95 $5.95

$5.19 $5.19

14.64%

Banana (1kg)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.98 $1.98

79.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$3.93 $3.93

6.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.96 $4.96

9.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.76 $2.76

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.76 $2.76

6.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.22 $2.22

35.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.98 $2.98

-15.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.62 $14.62

$14.02 $14.02

4.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$15.28 $15.28

0.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.58 $2.58

4.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.50 $3.50

-2.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.47 $2.47

16.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$74.8 $74.8

1.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.34 $3.34

-12.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.43 $1.43

47.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.39 $42.39

$24.32 $24.32

74.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.26 $1.26

-13.49%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$35.0K $35.0K

-20.19%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.86%

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

$247 $247

$193 $193

28.37%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$68.3 $68.3

-25.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 $50.1

$61.3 $61.3

-18.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.78 $24.78

$54.1 $54.1

-54.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$20.03 $20.03

$17.74 $17.74

12.91%

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

$2,012 $2,012

$1,652 $1,652

21.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

-47.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.63 $49.63

$66.1 $66.1

-24.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.6 $77.6

$51.2 $51.2

51.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 $87.9

$100 $100

-12.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$141 $141

-13.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,181 $2,181

$2,446 $2,446

-10.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,718 $1,718

$1,678 $1,678

2.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,668 $2,668

$4,717 $4,717

-43.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,492 $2,492

$2,795 $2,795

-10.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,297 $1,297

$4,105 $4,105

-68.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 $1,143

$2,650 $2,650

-56.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,997 $3,997

$4,866 $4,866

-17.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.81

-2.06%

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

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Elizabeth, NJ

$1.7K 53.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 2.3% $40

Groceries & Markets

Elizabeth, NJ

$475 14.9%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 5.4% $26

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Elizabeth, NJ

$348 10.9%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 7.5% $26

Eating Out

Elizabeth, NJ

$328 10.3%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 4.9% $16

Clothing & Footwear

Elizabeth, NJ

$152 4.8%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 6.4% $9.7

Getting Around

Elizabeth, NJ

$101 3.2%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 5.8% $5.8

Sport & Entertainment

Elizabeth, NJ

$65 2%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 38.2% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,181 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Chicago, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $475 in Elizabeth, NJ vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Elizabeth, NJ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

19:37 7:37 PM

18:37 6:37 PM

1 h behind Elizabeth, NJ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

126,179

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Highest

Between locations

Elizabeth, NJ Chicago, IL 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Elizabeth, NJ
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Elizabeth, NJ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 1% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,779 per month in Elizabeth, NJ and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Elizabeth, NJ, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Elizabeth, NJ and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elizabeth, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.