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

🙂 Solo nomad: Piscataway, NJ is 16.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 2.9% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Piscataway, NJ is 17.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.18 $15.18

$20.82 $20.82

-27.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.2 $79.2

$100 $100

-21.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.43 $12.43

$11.97 $11.97

3.84%

Cappuccino

$4.39 $4.39

$5.56 $5.56

-21.04%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$3.11 $3.11

-20.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.42 $2.42

-39.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.86 $6.86

-11.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 $7.78

$8.45 $8.45

-7.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.04 $1.04

26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$4.15 $4.15

-11.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$5.52 $5.52

-41.67%

Eggs

$3.54 $3.54

$4.65 $4.65

-23.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11 $11

$14.33 $14.33

-23.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.2 $10.2

$14.88 $14.88

-31.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.03 $14.03

$19.34 $19.34

-27.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$5.17 $5.17

-31.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.71 $1.71

-14.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.41 $4.41

-24.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$4.51 $4.51

-5.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.53 $2.53

-23.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.2 $2.2

$2.74 $2.74

-19.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.43 $2.43

-16.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.7 $2.7

-45.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.05 $15.05

$15.19 $15.19

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.84 $14.84

$16.42 $16.42

-9.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.35 $2.35

8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.7 $3.7

-21.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.53 $2.53

-19.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.93 $29.93

$74.1 $74.1

-59.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.34 $3.34

-8.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.42 $1.42

57.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.47 $42.47

$25.42 $25.42

67.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-20.60%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$26.2K $26.2K

-23.10%

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

$159 $159

$188 $188

-15.54%

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

$55 $55

$63.7 $63.7

-13.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 $65.4

$65.2 $65.2

0.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.81 $42.81

$76.7 $76.7

-44.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$15.19 $15.19

$14.93 $14.93

1.74%

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

$1,933 $1,933

$2,063 $2,063

-6.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.2K $14.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-63.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.25 $40.25

$64.3 $64.3

-37.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.67 $40.67

$52.4 $52.4

-22.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 $80.5

$95.2 $95.2

-15.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 $96.7

$145 $145

-33.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 $2,175

$2,378 $2,378

-8.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 $2,029

$1,584 $1,584

28.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,343 $3,343

$4,763 $4,763

-29.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,278 $3,278

$2,815 $2,815

16.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,839 $2,839

$3,588 $3,588

-20.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,552 $2,552

$2,490 $2,490

2.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,519 $4,519

$5,275 $5,275

-14.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.6

-19.24%

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

Last update for Piscataway, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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