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

😐 Solo nomad: Princeton, NJ is 18.9% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Princeton, NJ is 11.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.19 $17.19

$20.82 $20.82

-17.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79 $79

$100 $100

-21.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.97 $11.97

24.64%

Cappuccino

$5.04 $5.04

$5.56 $5.56

-9.35%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$3.11 $3.11

-21.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.42 $2.42

-10.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.79 $7.79

$6.86 $6.86

13.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.45 $8.45

-4.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.1 $1.1

$1.04 $1.04

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.15 $4.15

-4.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.69 $8.69

$5.52 $5.52

57.43%

Eggs

$4.27 $4.27

$4.65 $4.65

-8.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.39 $25.39

$14.33 $14.33

77.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.26 $24.26

$14.88 $14.88

63.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.74 $22.74

$19.34 $19.34

17.58%

Apples (1kg)

$6.67 $6.67

$5.17 $5.17

29.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.71 $1.71

51.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.41 $4.41

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.94 $5.94

$4.51 $4.51

31.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.53 $2.53

10.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.74 $2.74

34.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.43 $2.43

2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.7 $2.7

13.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.02 $11.02

$15.19 $15.19

-27.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.32 $19.32

$16.42 $16.42

17.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.7 $1.7

$2.35 $2.35

-27.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.2 $6.2

$3.7 $3.7

67.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.53 $2.53

-15.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$203 $203

$74.1 $74.1

173.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.9 $5.9

$3.34 $3.34

76.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.42 $1.42

-0.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.5 $42.5

$25.42 $25.42

67.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.08 $1.08

-22.22%

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

$30.1K $30.1K

$32.4K $32.4K

-7.22%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.31%

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

$183 $183

$188 $188

-2.78%

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

$51.1 $51.1

$63.7 $63.7

-19.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56 $56

$65.2 $65.2

-14.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$172 $172

$76.7 $76.7

123.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.65 $31.65

$13.03 $13.03

142.90%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$14.93 $14.93

1.47%

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

$1,867 $1,867

$2,063 $2,063

-9.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.7K $39.7K

$39.2K $39.2K

1.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.95 $36.95

$64.3 $64.3

-42.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.63 $23.63

$52.4 $52.4

-54.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 $142

$95.2 $95.2

49.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$204 $204

$145 $145

40.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,654 $2,654

$2,378 $2,378

11.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,905 $1,905

$1,584 $1,584

20.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,561 $4,561

$4,763 $4,763

-4.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,108 $3,108

$2,815 $2,815

10.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,490 $5,490

$3,588 $3,588

53.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,533 $3,533

$2,490 $2,490

41.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,992 $5,992

$5,275 $5,275

13.59%

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 Princeton, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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