Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Red Bank, NJ and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Red Bank, NJ: $2,542 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

122

Cost of Living Index in Red Bank, NJ
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Red Bank, NJ Living Index
146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Red Bank, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,542

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Red Bank, NJ and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Red Bank, NJ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,542 per month in Red Bank, NJ vs $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Red Bank, NJ $2,542
Chicago, IL $3,072

A couple spends around $3,610 per month in Red Bank, NJ vs $4,545 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Red Bank, NJ $3,610
Chicago, IL $4,545

A family of three spends $4,679 per month in Red Bank, NJ vs $6,019 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Red Bank, NJ $4,679
Chicago, IL $6,019

Red Bank, NJ is about 17% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Red Bank, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Red Bank, NJ by 88%, Chicago, IL by 127%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.67 $19.67

$20.39 $20.39

-3.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$88.6 $88.6

-16.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.73 $9.73

$12.85 $12.85

-24.28%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$5.78 $5.78

-12.46%

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

$2.39 $2.39

$2.74 $2.74

-12.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.26 $2.26

-7.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 $4.12

$6.88 $6.88

-40.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$9.24 $9.24

-46.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.26 $1.26

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$4.52 $4.52

$3.55 $3.55

27.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.38 $5.38

-18.03%

Eggs

$6.47 $6.47

$4.55 $4.55

42.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.49 $10.49

$13.65 $13.65

-23.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.81 $10.81

$14.07 $14.07

-23.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.35 $19.35

$18.06 $18.06

7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$5.16 $5.16

5.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.98 $1.98

-18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$3.88 $3.88

-16.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$4.83 $4.83

-35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.81 $2.81

-23.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.67 $2.67

-8.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.07 $2.07

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.03 $3.03

-1.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.74 $13.74

$13.90 $13.90

-1.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.19 $17.19

$15.05 $15.05

14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$2.63 $2.63

-27.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.45 $3.45

-20.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.43 $2.43

-12.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.8 $54.8

$75.3 $75.3

-27.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.17 $3.17

15.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.70 $1.70

30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$48.20 $48.20

$24.90 $24.90

93.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.28 $1.28

-15.62%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

-22.03%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.8K $26.8K

0.51%

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

$199 $199

$192 $192

3.61%

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

$36.53 $36.53

$69.6 $69.6

-47.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$62.2 $62.2

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.23 $39.23

$47.79 $47.79

-17.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

Cinema Ticket

$12.28 $12.28

$17.83 $17.83

-31.13%

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

$2,168 $2,168

$1,815 $1,815

19.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.9K $34.9K

$40.6K $40.6K

-14.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.73 $38.73

$66.2 $66.2

-41.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.63 $16.63

$51.4 $51.4

-67.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 $98.1

$103 $103

-5.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$143 $143

-9.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,552 $1,552

$2,531 $2,531

-38.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,263 $1,263

$1,621 $1,621

-22.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$4,828 $4,828

-49.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,853 $1,853

$2,734 $2,734

-32.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,624 $2,624

$4,163 $4,163

-36.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,427 $2,427

$2,723 $2,723

-10.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,573 $4,573

$4,924 $4,924

-7.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.78

-4.13%

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

Last update for Red Bank, NJ: November 3, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Red Bank, NJ

$1.3K 49.7%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 28.3% $358

Groceries & Markets

Red Bank, NJ

$416 16.4%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 5.6% $23

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Red Bank, NJ

$298 11.7%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 8.7% $26

Eating Out

Red Bank, NJ

$296 11.6%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 16.3% $48

Clothing & Footwear

Red Bank, NJ

$127 5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 28.9% $37

Getting Around

Red Bank, NJ

$78 3.1%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 24% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Red Bank, NJ

$64 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 30.8% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,552 in Red Bank, NJ versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Red Bank, NJ versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $439 – making Red Bank, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Red Bank, NJ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

08:10 8:10 AM

07:10 7:10 AM

1 h behind Red Bank, NJ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

11,850

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Red Bank, NJ Chicago, IL 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Red Bank, NJ
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Red Bank, NJ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,542 in Red Bank, NJ, $3,072 in Chicago, IL – Red Bank, NJ comes out roughly 17% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,812 per month in Red Bank, NJ and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Red Bank, NJ, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,552 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Red Bank, NJ and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Red Bank, NJ, where all-in costs run around $2,542, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Red Bank, NJ it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,542 in Red Bank, NJ to $3,072 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Red Bank, NJ. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.