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

🙂 Solo nomad: Hackensack, NJ is 5.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Hackensack, NJ is 16.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.11 $20.11

$20.82 $20.82

-3.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.26 $14.26

$11.97 $11.97

19.13%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$5.56 $5.56

-5.04%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$3.11 $3.11

-20.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.42 $2.42

-22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.21 $7.21

$6.86 $6.86

5.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 $9.23

$8.45 $8.45

9.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.04 $1.04

22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.15 $4.15

-9.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.52 $5.52

-5.43%

Eggs

$4.9 $4.9

$4.65 $4.65

5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.7 $13.7

$14.33 $14.33

-4.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 $10.12

$14.88 $14.88

-31.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.37 $17.37

$19.34 $19.34

-10.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$5.17 $5.17

-7.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.71 $1.71

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.41 $4.41

-12.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.3 $4.3

$4.51 $4.51

-4.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.53 $2.53

11.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.4 $2.4

$2.43 $2.43

-1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.7 $2.7

-1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.8 $11.8

$15.19 $15.19

-22.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.13 $15.13

$16.42 $16.42

-7.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.35 $2.35

-27.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.7 $3.7

20.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.53 $2.53

41.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.7 $60.7

$74.1 $74.1

-18.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.34 $3.34

-12.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.42 $1.42

45.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.41 $24.41

$25.42 $25.42

-3.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.08 $1.08

-13.89%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.51%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-4.88%

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

$212 $212

$188 $188

12.51%

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

$53.1 $53.1

$63.7 $63.7

-16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58 $58

$65.2 $65.2

-11.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.44 $45.44

$76.7 $76.7

-40.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$19.6 $19.6

$14.93 $14.93

31.28%

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

$1,406 $1,406

$2,063 $2,063

-31.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-59.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 $50.1

$64.3 $64.3

-22.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 $63.8

$52.4 $52.4

21.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$95.2 $95.2

-7.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 $98.5

$145 $145

-31.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 $1,782

$2,378 $2,378

-25.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,614 $1,614

$1,584 $1,584

1.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,382 $3,382

$4,763 $4,763

-28.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,241 $3,241

$2,815 $2,815

15.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,611 $3,611

$3,588 $3,588

0.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$2,490 $2,490

32.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,377 $4,377

$5,275 $5,275

-17.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.6

0.30%

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

Last update for Hackensack, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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