Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manalapan Township, NJ and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Manalapan Township, NJ: $2,617 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

126

Cost of Living Index in Manalapan Township, NJ
Learn more

Manalapan Township, NJ Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

Manalapan Township, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,617

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,617 per month in Manalapan Township, NJ vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Manalapan Township, NJ $2,617
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,802 per month in Manalapan Township, NJ vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Manalapan Township, NJ $3,802
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,988 per month in Manalapan Township, NJ vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Manalapan Township, NJ $4,988
Chicago, IL $6,115

Manalapan Township, NJ is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Manalapan Township, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Manalapan Township, NJ by 93%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.24 $22.24

$20.65 $20.65

7.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$90.2 $90.2

-11.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.81 $11.81

$12.94 $12.94

-8.73%

Cappuccino

$5.35 $5.35

$5.60 $5.60

-4.46%

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

$2.07 $2.07

$2.64 $2.64

-21.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.27 $2.27

-2.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.98 $6.98

-14.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.23 $8.23

$8.83 $8.83

-6.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.27 $1.27

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.80 $3.80

-11.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.42 $7.42

$5.30 $5.30

40.00%

Eggs

$4.21 $4.21

$4.76 $4.76

-11.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.19 $12.19

$13.96 $13.96

-12.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$14.61 $14.61

-62.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 $11.09

$18.77 $18.77

-40.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.19 $5.19

-17.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.98 $1.98

-22.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.93 $3.93

-3.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.96 $4.96

5.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.76 $2.76

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$2.76 $2.76

15.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.22 $2.22

-13.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.98 $2.98

-31.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.02 $14.02

-14.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 $12.06

$15.28 $15.28

-21.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.58 $2.58

-6.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.50 $3.50

-13.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.47 $2.47

-21.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$111 $111

$74.8 $74.8

48.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.34 $3.34

-21.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.43 $1.43

10.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.67 $23.67

$24.32 $24.32

-2.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.26 $1.26

-12.70%

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

$19.8K $19.8K

$35.0K $35.0K

-43.51%

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

$21.6K $21.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-17.02%

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

$202 $202

$193 $193

4.81%

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

$62.4 $62.4

$68.3 $68.3

-8.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 $64.5

$61.3 $61.3

5.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.10 $42.10

$54.1 $54.1

-22.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$12.20 $12.20

$17.74 $17.74

-31.23%

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

$2,231 $2,231

$1,652 $1,652

35.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.0K $42.0K

$31.1K $31.1K

35.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.42 $25.42

$66.1 $66.1

-61.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.34 $30.34

$51.2 $51.2

-40.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.7 $59.7

$100 $100

-40.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.6 $89.6

$141 $141

-36.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$2,446 $2,446

-35.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 $1,307

$1,678 $1,678

-22.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,471 $2,471

$4,717 $4,717

-47.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,111 $2,111

$2,795 $2,795

-24.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,832 $2,832

$4,105 $4,105

-31.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,560 $2,560

$2,650 $2,650

-3.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,938 $3,938

$4,866 $4,866

-19.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

6.81

-2.79%

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

Last update for Manalapan Township, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Manalapan Township, NJ

$1.3K 49.9%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 28.4% $371

Groceries & Markets

Manalapan Township, NJ

$351 13.4%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 27.9% $98

Eating Out

Manalapan Township, NJ

$341 13%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 0.7% $2.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Manalapan Township, NJ

$329 12.6%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 2% $6.6

Getting Around

Manalapan Township, NJ

$130 5%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 26.6% $35

Clothing & Footwear

Manalapan Township, NJ

$92 3.5%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 74.8% $69

Sport & Entertainment

Manalapan Township, NJ

$67 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 34.7% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in Manalapan Township, NJ versus $2,446 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 24% higher in Chicago, IL, 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 $80.0 in Manalapan Township, NJ versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $449 – making Manalapan Township, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Manalapan Township, NJ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

18:17 6:17 PM

17:17 5:17 PM

1 h behind Manalapan Township, NJ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

37,169

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Manalapan Township, NJ Chicago, IL 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Manalapan Township, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 20% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,925 per month in Manalapan Township, NJ and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manalapan Township, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $80.0 in Manalapan Township, NJ and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ and $3,139 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 $2,617 in Manalapan Township, NJ to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. 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 Manalapan Township, NJ. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.