Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth Amboy, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth Amboy, NJ and Chicago, IL

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Perth Amboy, NJ is 13.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Perth Amboy, NJ is 21.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 18.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.69 $19.69
$20.82 $20.82
-5.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$100 $100
-19.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.25 $15.25
$11.97 $11.97
27.40%
Cappuccino
$5.08 $5.08
$5.56 $5.56
-8.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$3.11 $3.11
-18.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.42 $2.42
-19.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.9 $7.9
$6.86 $6.86
15.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.8 $7.8
$8.45 $8.45
-7.69%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.04 $1.04
9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 $2.25
$4.15 $4.15
-45.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$9.34 $9.34
$5.52 $5.52
69.20%
Eggs
$2.96 $2.96
$4.65 $4.65
-36.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.02 $12.02
$14.33 $14.33
-16.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.45 $11.45
$14.88 $14.88
-23.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.18 $23.18
$19.34 $19.34
19.86%
Apples (1kg)
$7.55 $7.55
$5.17 $5.17
46.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.71 $1.71
46.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.46 $5.46
$4.41 $4.41
23.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.15 $6.15
$4.51 $4.51
36.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.4 $1.4
$2.53 $2.53
-44.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$2.74 $2.74
-47.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.43 $2.43
-37.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.7 $2.7
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.1 $11.1
$15.19 $15.19
-26.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.09 $12.09
$16.42 $16.42
-26.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.2 $6.2
$3.7 $3.7
67.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
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)
$6.12 $6.12
$3.34 $3.34
83.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.42 $1.42
16.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.63 $42.63
$25.42 $25.42
67.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
-9.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 $181
$188 $188
-3.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.94 $23.94
$63.7 $63.7
-62.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2 $55.2
$65.2 $65.2
-15.29%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.23 $43.23
$76.7 $76.7
-43.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.84 $14.84
$14.93 $14.93
-0.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,836 $1,836
$2,063 $2,063
-10.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.4K $39.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
0.45%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.5 $32.5
$64.3 $64.3
-49.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9 $55.9
$52.4 $52.4
6.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 $76.4
$95.2 $95.2
-19.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.7 $95.7
$145 $145
-33.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$2,378 $2,378
-32.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$1,584 $1,584
-14.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,591 $2,591
$4,763 $4,763
-45.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,201 $2,201
$2,815 $2,815
-21.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,813 $2,813
$3,588 $3,588
-21.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,208 $2,208
$2,490 $2,490
-11.33%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Perth Amboy, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,419 $3,419
$5,275 $5,275
-35.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Perth Amboy, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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