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 $3,799 per month in Morristown, NJ vs $2,548 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,327 per month in Morristown, NJ vs $4,455 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,855 per month in Morristown, NJ vs $6,363 in Evanston, IL, rent included.

Morristown, NJ costs about 49% more than Evanston, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Morristown, NJ and Evanston, IL sit above the global median – Morristown, NJ by 177%, Evanston, IL by 85%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.89 $18.89

$20.23 $20.23

-6.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.6 $78.6

$84.1 $84.1

-6.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$12.93 $12.93

-8.97%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.75 $5.75

-2.09%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$2.69 $2.69

-8.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.25 $2.25

-34.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.09 $7.09

$7.03 $7.03

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.90 $8.90

$7.46 $7.46

19.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.03 $1.03

23.30%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.96 $3.96

10.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.72 $4.72

-4.45%

Eggs

$5.89 $5.89

$4.92 $4.92

19.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 $14.23

$14.71 $14.71

-3.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$14.40 $14.40

-54.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.46 $19.46

$19.54 $19.54

-0.41%

Apples (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.36 $5.36

15.11%

Banana (1kg)

$3.65 $3.65

$1.67 $1.67

118.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$4.23 $4.23

-2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$4.83 $4.83

10.97%

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.77 $2.77

12.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.79 $2.79

31.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 $0.82

$2.06 $2.06

-60.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$2.42 $2.42

-78.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.96 $12.96

$10.54 $10.54

22.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.14 $15.14

$15.25 $15.25

-0.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.64 $2.64

-29.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.48 $3.48

-8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.46 $2.46

2.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.5 $68.5

$74.7 $74.7

-8.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.96 $3.96

-25.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.42 $1.42

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.64 $41.64

$43.60 $43.60

-4.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.94 $0.94

-3.19%

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

$34.6K $34.6K

$36.4K $36.4K

-4.90%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

-0.94%

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

$169 $169

$191 $191

-11.14%

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

$51.0 $51.0

$62.1 $62.1

-17.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 $50.5

$74.0 $74.0

-31.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 $79.2

$74.5 $74.5

6.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 $58.9

Cinema Ticket

$16.97 $16.97

$14.82 $14.82

14.51%

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

$2,378 $2,378

$1,560 $1,560

52.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K $15.7K

$31.3K $31.3K

-49.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.50 $39.50

$63.2 $63.2

-37.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 $27.47

$50.7 $50.7

-45.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 $87.8

$105 $105

-16.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$124 $124

-16.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,689 $2,689

$1,677 $1,677

60.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,435 $2,435

$1,106 $1,106

120.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,149 $4,149

$3,992 $3,992

3.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,724 $3,724

$3,021 $3,021

23.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,683 $2,683

$14.5K $14.5K

-81.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,253 $2,253

$12.8K $12.8K

-82.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,660 $5,660

$5,329 $5,329

6.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

6.38

-2.66%

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

Last update for Morristown, NJ: August 30, 2026

Last update for Evanston, IL: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,689 in Morristown, NJ versus $1,677 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 6% higher in Morristown, NJ, 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 $79.0 in Morristown, NJ versus $84.0 in Evanston, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $400 vs $443 – making Morristown, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $3,799 in Morristown, NJ, $2,548 in Evanston, IL – roughly 49% apart. Morristown, NJ costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,699 per month in Morristown, NJ and $3,822 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Morristown, NJ – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Morristown, NJ and $84.0 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 $3,799 in Morristown, NJ and $2,548 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.