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

😐 Solo nomad: Newark, NJ is 10.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Newark, NJ is 11.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 3.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.78 $19.78

$20.82 $20.82

-5.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$100 $100

-11.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.97 $11.97

2.17%

Cappuccino

$4.85 $4.85

$5.56 $5.56

-12.77%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$3.11 $3.11

-15.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.42 $2.42

-19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$6.86 $6.86

-12.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.97 $6.97

$8.45 $8.45

-17.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.4 $1.4

$1.04 $1.04

34.62%

White Bread (500g)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.15 $4.15

5.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.98 $7.98

$5.52 $5.52

44.57%

Eggs

$5.9 $5.9

$4.65 $4.65

26.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.92 $14.92

$14.33 $14.33

4.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$14.88 $14.88

8.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.67 $20.67

$19.34 $19.34

6.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 $7.63

$5.17 $5.17

47.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.71 $1.71

49.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.41 $4.41

28.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.51 $4.51

45.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.53 $2.53

53.36%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.74 $2.74

43.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.43 $2.43

27.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.7 $2.7

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.98 $12.98

$15.19 $15.19

-14.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 $18.26

$16.42 $16.42

11.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.35 $2.35

-17.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.7 $3.7

0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.53 $2.53

131.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.3 $55.3

$74.1 $74.1

-25.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.34 $3.34

-9.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.42 $1.42

0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.56 $21.56

$25.42 $25.42

-15.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.08 $1.08

-15.74%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.43%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.40%

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

$266 $266

$188 $188

41.21%

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

$62.7 $62.7

$63.7 $63.7

-1.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.7 $75.7

$65.2 $65.2

16.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.52 $29.52

$76.7 $76.7

-61.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.29 $17.29

$13.03 $13.03

32.69%

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 $14.77

$14.93 $14.93

-1.07%

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

$2,110 $2,110

$2,063 $2,063

2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$42.5K $42.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

8.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53 $53

$64.3 $64.3

-17.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.01 $42.01

$52.4 $52.4

-19.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$95.2 $95.2

16.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$168 $168

$145 $145

16.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,320 $2,320

$2,378 $2,378

-2.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,561 $1,561

$1,584 $1,584

-1.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,306 $3,306

$4,763 $4,763

-30.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,605 $2,605

$2,815 $2,815

-7.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,994 $3,994

$3,588 $3,588

11.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,897 $3,897

$2,490 $2,490

56.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,389 $3,389

$5,275 $5,275

-35.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.6

0.45%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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