Cost of Living Comparison Between Morristown, NJ and Evanston, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Morristown, NJ and Evanston, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Morristown, NJ vs $2,550 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,677 per month in Morristown, NJ vs $4,399 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,569 per month in Morristown, NJ vs $6,249 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

Morristown, NJ costs about 48% more than Evanston, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Morristown, NJ and Evanston, IL sit above the global median – Morristown, NJ by 182%, Evanston, IL by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.36 $20.36

$20.17 $20.17

0.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$80.4 $80.4

-0.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$12.03 $12.03

-2.16%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$5.54 $5.54

-5.78%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$2.65 $2.65

-6.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.33 $2.33

31.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$6.95 $6.95

-29.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.88 $6.88

2.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.04 $1.04

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.99 $3.99

$3.77 $3.77

5.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$5.18 $5.18

-13.71%

Eggs

$5.64 $5.64

$4.50 $4.50

25.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.80 $25.80

$13.79 $13.79

87.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$13.47 $13.47

-50.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.34 $22.34

$19.10 $19.10

16.96%

Apples (1kg)

$7.51 $7.51

$4.33 $4.33

73.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.76 $1.76

40.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.36 $4.36

21.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.49 $11.49

$4.39 $4.39

161.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.48 $2.48

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.88 $2.88

31.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 $0.78

$2.03 $2.03

-61.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$2.03 $2.03

-75.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.88 $10.88

$9.83 $9.83

10.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.77 $14.77

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.27 $2.27

-10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$3.62 $3.62

-31.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.82 $2.82

-12.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 $69.0

$75.0 $75.0

-8.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 $6.15

$4.41 $4.41

39.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.37 $1.37

59.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.40 $42.40

$41.25 $41.25

2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.85 $0.85

4.71%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$30.0K $30.0K

-0.86%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

2.62%

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

$183 $183

$185 $185

-0.87%

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

$51.2 $51.2

$62.3 $62.3

-17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.4 $56.4

$73.6 $73.6

-23.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 $72.6

$73.7 $73.7

-1.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$60.6 $60.6

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$15.16 $15.16

-1.39%

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

$1,787 $1,787

$1,625 $1,625

10.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.8K $40.8K

$35.6K $35.6K

14.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.11 $40.11

$63.1 $63.1

-36.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.32 $19.32

$47.43 $47.43

-59.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 $78.7

$99.4 $99.4

-20.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$203 $203

$134 $134

51.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,325 $2,325

$1,690 $1,690

37.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,365 $2,365

$1,106 $1,106

113.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$3,997 $3,997

3.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$2,979 $2,979

-25.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,680 $2,680

$14.6K $14.6K

-81.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,296 $2,296

$12.9K $12.9K

-82.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,513 $5,513

$5,599 $5,599

-1.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

6.6

-5.15%

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

Last update for Morristown, NJ: April 20, 2026

Last update for Evanston, IL: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,325 in Morristown, NJ versus $1,690 in Evanston, 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 2% higher in Evanston, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80 in Morristown, NJ versus $80 in Evanston, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $470 in Morristown, NJ vs $418 in Evanston, IL – so Evanston, IL 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

Morristown, NJ vs Evanston, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,785 in Morristown, NJ, $2,550 in Evanston, IL – roughly 48% apart. Morristown, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,678 per month in Morristown, NJ and $3,824 in Evanston, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 12% more in Morristown, NJ, 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 Morristown, NJ and $80.0 in Evanston, 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 $3,785 in Morristown, NJ and $2,550 in Evanston, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Evanston, IL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Evanston, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Morristown, NJ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.