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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Ramsey, NJ is 20.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 12.9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Ramsey, NJ is 11.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67 $19.67
$20.82 $20.82
-5.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$100 $100
18.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$11.97 $11.97
0.50%
Cappuccino
$5.7 $5.7
$5.56 $5.56
2.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.8 $2.8
$3.11 $3.11
-9.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.42 $2.42
-12.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.22 $8.22
$6.86 $6.86
19.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.18 $8.18
$8.45 $8.45
-3.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.04 $1.04
38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$4.4 $4.4
$4.15 $4.15
6.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.46 $6.46
$5.52 $5.52
17.03%
Eggs
$5.4 $5.4
$4.65 $4.65
16.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.51 $13.51
$14.33 $14.33
-5.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.51 $12.51
$14.88 $14.88
-15.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 $13.39
$19.34 $19.34
-30.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.88 $5.88
$5.17 $5.17
13.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.71 $1.71
-5.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.84 $5.84
$4.41 $4.41
32.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.22 $6.22
$4.51 $4.51
37.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.53 $2.53
9.49%
Onion (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$2.74 $2.74
75.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.43 $2.43
11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.7 $2.7
-12.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.11 $12.11
$15.19 $15.19
-20.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.18 $15.18
$16.42 $16.42
-7.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.35 $2.35
9.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 $3.56
$3.7 $3.7
-3.78%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.53 $2.53
-22.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.34 $3.34
-11.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.42 $1.42
54.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.67 $42.67
$25.42 $25.42
67.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.08 $1.08
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-23.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.72%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 $122
$188 $188
-35.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.8 $58.8
$63.7 $63.7
-7.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2 $61.2
$65.2 $65.2
-6.21%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.34 $43.34
$76.7 $76.7
-43.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.88 $19.88
$14.93 $14.93
33.15%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,876 $1,876
$2,063 $2,063
-9.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K $14.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-64.12%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.62 $19.62
$64.3 $64.3
-69.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.5 $59.5
$52.4 $52.4
13.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$30.4 $30.4
$95.2 $95.2
-68.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1 $98.1
$145 $145
-32.17%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,345 $3,345
$2,378 $2,378
40.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$1,584 $1,584
-13.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,597 $2,597
$4,763 $4,763
-45.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,246 $2,246
$2,815 $2,815
-20.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,552 $2,552
$3,588 $3,588
-28.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,442 $2,442
$2,490 $2,490
-1.92%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Ramsey, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.6
-1.36%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ramsey, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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