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

🙂 Solo nomad: Paterson, NJ is 10.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Paterson, NJ is 14.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 1.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.74 $16.74

$20.82 $20.82

-19.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$100 $100

1.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.82 $11.82

$11.97 $11.97

-1.25%

Cappuccino

$6.02 $6.02

$5.56 $5.56

8.27%

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

$2.3 $2.3

$3.11 $3.11

-26.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.42 $2.42

-35.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.86 $6.86

2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$8.45 $8.45

-17.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.04 $1.04

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.35 $4.35

$4.15 $4.15

4.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$5.52 $5.52

2.72%

Eggs

$6.44 $6.44

$4.65 $4.65

38.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.26 $15.26

$14.33 $14.33

6.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.32 $10.32

$14.88 $14.88

-30.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.75 $19.75

$19.34 $19.34

2.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.62 $7.62

$5.17 $5.17

47.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.71 $1.71

42.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.41 $4.41

-2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 $4.12

$4.51 $4.51

-8.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.53 $2.53

18.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.43 $2.43

12.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.7 $2.7

-5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.48 $17.48

$15.19 $15.19

15.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.75 $17.75

$16.42 $16.42

8.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$2.35 $2.35

-21.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.7 $3.7

21.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.53 $2.53

-21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.34 $3.34

48.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.42 $1.42

53.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.67 $42.67

$25.42 $25.42

67.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.08 $1.08

-13.89%

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

$24K $24K

$32.4K $32.4K

-26.08%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.04%

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

$183 $183

$188 $188

-3.01%

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

$53.6 $53.6

$63.7 $63.7

-15.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 $62.1

$65.2 $65.2

-4.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.53 $42.53

$76.7 $76.7

-44.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$20.31 $20.31

$14.93 $14.93

36.03%

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

$1,726 $1,726

$2,063 $2,063

-16.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K $15.8K

$39.2K $39.2K

-59.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 $67.4

$64.3 $64.3

4.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.04 $48.04

$52.4 $52.4

-8.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$95.2 $95.2

11.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$145 $145

19.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,378 $2,378

14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 $1,346

$1,584 $1,584

-15.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,678 $2,678

$4,763 $4,763

-43.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,111 $3,111

$2,815 $2,815

10.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,398 $2,398

$3,588 $3,588

-33.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,092 $2,092

$2,490 $2,490

-15.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,264 $3,264

$5,275 $5,275

-38.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

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

Last update for Paterson, NJ: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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