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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Freehold, NJ is 18.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Freehold, NJ is 31.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.37 $19.37
$20.82 $20.82
-6.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 $68.6
$100 $100
-31.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.1 $11.1
$11.97 $11.97
-7.27%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$5.56 $5.56
-17.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.11 $3.11
-28.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.42 $2.42
-21.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$6.86 $6.86
-14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.69 $6.69
$8.45 $8.45
-20.83%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1 $1
$1.04 $1.04
-3.85%
White Bread (500g)
$3.38 $3.38
$4.15 $4.15
-18.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$5.52 $5.52
-19.02%
Eggs
$4.3 $4.3
$4.65 $4.65
-7.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.2 $12.2
$14.33 $14.33
-14.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.36 $11.36
$14.88 $14.88
-23.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 $15.65
$19.34 $19.34
-19.08%
Apples (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$5.17 $5.17
-3.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.71 $1.71
-4.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$4.41 $4.41
-2.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$4.51 $4.51
6.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.8 $2.8
$2.53 $2.53
10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.74 $2.74
1.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.43 $2.43
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.7 $2.7
-18.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.46 $9.46
$15.19 $15.19
-37.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 $13.84
$16.42 $16.42
-15.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$2.35 $2.35
-20.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.7 $3.7
-7.30%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
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)
$3.53 $3.53
$3.34 $3.34
5.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.42 $1.42
11.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.77 $29.77
$25.42 $25.42
17.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 $1.08
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K $30.1K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.22%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$188 $188
-1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8 $53.8
$63.7 $63.7
-15.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3 $67.3
$65.2 $65.2
3.28%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.3 $42.3
$76.7 $76.7
-44.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.59 $13.59
$14.93 $14.93
-8.98%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 $1,307
$2,063 $2,063
-36.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.1K $23.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-41.02%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 $50.3
$64.3 $64.3
-21.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.29 $40.29
$52.4 $52.4
-23.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 $87.4
$95.2 $95.2
-8.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.14%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 $1,609
$2,378 $2,378
-32.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,349 $1,349
$1,584 $1,584
-14.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 $2,588
$4,763 $4,763
-45.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,259 $2,259
$2,815 $2,815
-19.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,049 $3,049
$3,588 $3,588
-15.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,732 $2,732
$2,490 $2,490
9.70%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Freehold, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,857 $3,857
$5,275 $5,275
-26.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

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

Last update for Freehold, NJ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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