Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Branch, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Long Branch, NJ and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Long Branch, NJ is 15.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 7.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Long Branch, NJ is 9.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.08 $20.08
$20.82 $20.82
-3.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.2 $90.2
$100 $100
-10.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 $11.98
$11.97 $11.97
0.08%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$5.56 $5.56
-11.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.11 $3.11
-13.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.42 $2.42
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 $4.08
$6.86 $6.86
-40.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 $7.2
$8.45 $8.45
-14.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.04 $1.04
34.62%
White Bread (500g)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.15 $4.15
-2.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$10.32 $10.32
$5.52 $5.52
86.96%
Eggs
$4.33 $4.33
$4.65 $4.65
-6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.92 $14.92
$14.33 $14.33
4.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.6 $13.6
$14.88 $14.88
-8.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.94 $20.94
$19.34 $19.34
8.27%
Apples (1kg)
$6.03 $6.03
$5.17 $5.17
16.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.2 $2.2
$1.71 $1.71
28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 $5.14
$4.41 $4.41
16.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$4.51 $4.51
20.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.53 $2.53
35.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.74 $2.74
6.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.43 $2.43
20.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.7 $2.7
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.76 $12.76
$15.19 $15.19
-16.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$16.42 $16.42
-6.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.35 $2.35
-17.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.2 $4.2
$3.7 $3.7
13.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.34 $3.34
-12.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.42 $1.42
-1.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.74 $21.74
$25.42 $25.42
-14.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.08 $1.08
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-16.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$274 $274
$188 $188
45.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.6 $63.6
$63.7 $63.7
-0.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.3 $76.3
$65.2 $65.2
17.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.92 $42.92
$76.7 $76.7
-44.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.9 $14.9
$14.93 $14.93
-0.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,126 $2,126
$2,063 $2,063
3.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.5K $23.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-39.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 $50.8
$64.3 $64.3
-20.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.89 $41.89
$52.4 $52.4
-20.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.1 $95.1
$95.2 $95.2
-0.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$145 $145
-2.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,573 $1,573
$2,378 $2,378
-33.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 $1,338
$1,584 $1,584
-15.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,650 $2,650
$4,763 $4,763
-44.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,208 $2,208
$2,815 $2,815
-21.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,699 $2,699
$3,588 $3,588
-24.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,571 $2,571
$2,490 $2,490
3.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Long Branch, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.68
6.6
1.21%

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

Last update for Long Branch, NJ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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