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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,419 per month in Hackensack, NJ vs $3,117 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,210 per month in Hackensack, NJ vs $4,695 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,002 per month in Hackensack, NJ vs $6,273 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hackensack, NJ costs about 10% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hackensack, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hackensack, NJ by 150%, Chicago, IL by 128%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.66 $24.66

$19.92 $19.92

23.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$88.5 $88.5

14.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$12.94 $12.94

1.70%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$5.54 $5.54

-3.61%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$2.74 $2.74

-13.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$2.36 $2.36

-32.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.12 $7.12

13.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$8.73 $8.73

-10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.34 $1.34

-1.49%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$4.17 $4.17

3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$5.73 $5.73

2.97%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$4.89 $4.89

20.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.31 $12.31

$14.77 $14.77

-16.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.79 $7.79

$14.85 $14.85

-47.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.94 $16.94

$19.61 $19.61

-13.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.57 $5.57

-3.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.92 $1.92

-9.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.17 $4.17

4.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.86 $4.86

3.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.84 $2.84

8.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.80 $2.80

10.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.20 $2.20

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.06 $3.06

-4.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.25 $11.25

$16.16 $16.16

-30.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$14.82 $14.82

2.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.53 $2.53

-32.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.35 $3.35

3.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.55 $2.55

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.5 $60.5

$75.6 $75.6

-19.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.30 $3.30

-10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.36 $1.36

47.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.81 $23.81

$25.12 $25.12

-5.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.17 $1.17

-9.40%

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

$35.6K $35.6K

$36.0K $36.0K

-1.01%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-5.56%

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

$211 $211

$191 $191

10.36%

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

$56.1 $56.1

$67.9 $67.9

-17.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.64 $49.64

$61.7 $61.7

-19.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.22 $44.22

$63.5 $63.5

-30.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$20.19 $20.19

$18.02 $18.02

12.04%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$1,522 $1,522

-9.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K $16.0K

$31.3K $31.3K

-48.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.08 $44.08

$63.7 $63.7

-30.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 $56.7

$55.3 $55.3

2.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.0 $88.0

$100 $100

-12.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$153 $153

-33.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,363 $2,363

$2,406 $2,406

-1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$1,653 $1,653

16.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,236 $4,236

$4,577 $4,577

-7.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,717 $3,717

$2,771 $2,771

34.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,553 $3,553

$4,031 $4,031

-11.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$2,745 $2,745

22.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,205 $6,205

$4,804 $4,804

29.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

6.38

-1.57%

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

Last update for Hackensack, NJ: September 14, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,363 in Hackensack, NJ versus $2,406 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 29% higher in Hackensack, NJ, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Hackensack, NJ versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $418 in Hackensack, NJ vs $464 in Chicago, IL – so Hackensack, NJ wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,419 in Hackensack, NJ, $3,117 in Chicago, IL – roughly 10% apart. Hackensack, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,129 per month in Hackensack, NJ and $4,676 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Hackensack, NJ – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Hackensack, NJ and $88.0 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 $3,419 in Hackensack, NJ and $3,117 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 $3,117 in Chicago, IL to $3,419 in Hackensack, NJ. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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