Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Long Branch, NJ: $2,692 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

123

Cost of Living Index in Long Branch, NJ
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Long Branch, NJ Living Index
147

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

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Long Branch, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,692

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Long Branch, 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 Long Branch, NJ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,692 per month in Long Branch, NJ vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Long Branch, NJ $2,692
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $3,706 per month in Long Branch, NJ vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Long Branch, NJ $3,706
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $4,720 per month in Long Branch, NJ vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Long Branch, NJ $4,720
Chicago, IL $5,999

Long Branch, NJ is about 11% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Long Branch, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Long Branch, NJ by 98%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.97 $19.97

$20.71 $20.71

-3.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$89.2 $89.2

-15.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.98 $12.98

$13.19 $13.19

-1.59%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$5.66 $5.66

-11.31%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$2.64 $2.64

5.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.28 $2.28

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.97 $3.97

$6.87 $6.87

-42.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.96 $6.96

$8.84 $8.84

-21.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.25 $1.25

-15.20%

White Bread (500g)

$4.62 $4.62

$3.72 $3.72

24.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$5.39 $5.39

-18.55%

Eggs

$6.48 $6.48

$4.74 $4.74

36.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.54 $10.54

$13.84 $13.84

-23.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.85 $10.85

$14.40 $14.40

-24.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.14 $19.14

$18.38 $18.38

4.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.22 $5.22

4.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.98 $1.98

-19.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$4.06 $4.06

-16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$4.97 $4.97

-37.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.67 $2.67

-15.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.66 $2.66

-6.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.24 $2.24

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$3.13 $3.13

-9.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.69 $13.69

$13.82 $13.82

-0.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.82 $16.82

$14.88 $14.88

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.54 $2.54

-24.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.51 $3.51

-21.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.43 $2.43

-9.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 $62.0

$73.5 $73.5

-15.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.18 $3.18

86.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.39 $1.39

10.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.68 $31.68

$25.03 $25.03

26.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.20 $1.20

-13.33%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-19.67%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.16%

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

$179 $179

$194 $194

-7.73%

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

$37.21 $37.21

$69.5 $69.5

-46.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 $59.8

$61.6 $61.6

-3.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 $36.08

$47.90 $47.90

-24.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$12.42 $12.42

$17.81 $17.81

-30.26%

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

$2,152 $2,152

$1,794 $1,794

19.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-32.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.46 $38.46

$67.0 $67.0

-42.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.42 $16.42

$52.1 $52.1

-68.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 $100.0

$102 $102

-1.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$144 $144

-12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,440 $1,440

$2,526 $2,526

-42.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 $1,417

$1,578 $1,578

-10.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$4,738 $4,738

-40.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$2,693 $2,693

-30.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,782 $2,782

$4,190 $4,190

-33.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,109 $2,109

$2,768 $2,768

-23.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.81

-4.41%

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

Last update for Long Branch, NJ: October 26, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Long Branch, NJ

$1.4K 52.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 11.3% $161

Groceries & Markets

Long Branch, NJ

$415 15.4%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 7.8% $32

Eating Out

Long Branch, NJ

$312 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 10.6% $33

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Long Branch, NJ

$276 10.3%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 17.8% $49

Clothing & Footwear

Long Branch, NJ

$126 4.7%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 29.7% $38

Getting Around

Long Branch, NJ

$84 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 10.6% $9

Sport & Entertainment

Long Branch, NJ

$61 2.3%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 37.1% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,440 in Long Branch, NJ versus $2,526 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75 in Long Branch, NJ versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $415 vs $447 – making Long Branch, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Long Branch, NJ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

15:02 3:02 PM

14:02 2:02 PM

1 h behind Long Branch, NJ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

32,314

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Long Branch, NJ Chicago, IL 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Long Branch, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,692 in Long Branch, NJ, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 13% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,039 per month in Long Branch, NJ and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Branch, NJ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,440 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, 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 $75 in Long Branch, NJ and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Long Branch, NJ, where all-in costs run around $2,692, than in Chicago, IL at $3,037. In Long Branch, NJ it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,692 in Long Branch, NJ to $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

For expats, Long Branch, NJ is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 13% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.