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

🙂 Solo nomad: Middlesex, NJ is 12.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Middlesex, NJ is 33.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.4 $11.4

$20.82 $20.82

-45.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.97 $36.97

$100 $100

-63.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 $5.93

$11.97 $11.97

-50.46%

Cappuccino

$3.28 $3.28

$5.56 $5.56

-41.01%

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

$1.13 $1.13

$3.11 $3.11

-63.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.42 $2.42

-17.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$6.86 $6.86

-55.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 $5.97

$8.45 $8.45

-29.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.04 $1.04

17.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.15 $4.15

-14.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.01 $10.01

$5.52 $5.52

81.34%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$4.65 $4.65

-6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 $15.31

$14.33 $14.33

6.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.03 $14.03

$14.88 $14.88

-5.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.89 $20.89

$19.34 $19.34

8.01%

Apples (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$5.17 $5.17

14.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.71 $1.71

30.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$4.41 $4.41

14.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$4.51 $4.51

16.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.53 $2.53

31.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.74 $2.74

5.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.43 $2.43

25.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.7 $2.7

-5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.92 $12.92

$15.19 $15.19

-14.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$16.42 $16.42

-7.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.35 $2.35

-17.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.7 $3.7

12.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.53 $2.53

-19.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.34 $3.34

-11.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.42 $1.42

-6.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.12 $22.12

$25.42 $25.42

-12.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.08 $1.08

-24.07%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-16.34%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

0.03%

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

$270 $270

$188 $188

43.57%

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

$61.5 $61.5

$63.7 $63.7

-3.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76 $76

$65.2 $65.2

16.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.18 $42.18

$76.7 $76.7

-45.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$14.93 $14.93

1.47%

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

$2,111 $2,111

$2,063 $2,063

2.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$64.3 $64.3

-22.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 $42.77

$52.4 $52.4

-18.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 $92.5

$95.2 $95.2

-2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$145 $145

-0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,621 $2,621

$2,378 $2,378

10.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,338 $1,338

$1,584 $1,584

-15.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 $2,674

$4,763 $4,763

-43.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,194 $2,194

$2,815 $2,815

-22.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,734 $2,734

$3,588 $3,588

-23.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,207 $2,207

$2,490 $2,490

-11.36%

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 Middlesex, NJ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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