Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ridgewood, NJ: $2,649 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Ridgewood, NJ
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Ridgewood, NJ Living Index
152

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

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Ridgewood, NJ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,649

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ridgewood, 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 Ridgewood, NJ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,649 per month in Ridgewood, NJ vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Ridgewood, NJ $2,649
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,893 per month in Ridgewood, NJ vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Ridgewood, NJ $3,893
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,138 per month in Ridgewood, NJ vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Ridgewood, NJ $5,138
Chicago, IL $6,115

Ridgewood, NJ is about 16% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ridgewood, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Ridgewood, NJ by 96%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.88 $17.88

$20.65 $20.65

-13.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.7 $71.7

$90.2 $90.2

-20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.94 $12.94

-8.35%

Cappuccino

$5.37 $5.37

$5.60 $5.60

-4.11%

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

$2.52 $2.52

$2.64 $2.64

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.27 $2.27

-9.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.98 $6.98

-0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$8.83 $8.83

-10.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.27 $1.27

26.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.80 $3.80

-8.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$5.30 $5.30

-17.74%

Eggs

$3.41 $3.41

$4.76 $4.76

-28.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.32 $15.32

$13.96 $13.96

9.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 $7.74

$14.61 $14.61

-47.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$18.77 $18.77

-40.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$5.19 $5.19

5.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.98 $1.98

-12.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.93 $3.93

15.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$4.96 $4.96

19.35%

Potato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.76 $2.76

44.20%

Onion (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.76 $2.76

63.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.22 $2.22

19.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.98 $2.98

-15.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.78 $11.78

$14.02 $14.02

-15.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.28 $15.28

-0.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.58 $2.58

7.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.50 $3.50

-5.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.47 $2.47

-25.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.23 $40.23

$74.8 $74.8

-46.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.34 $3.34

-8.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.43 $1.43

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$24.32 $24.32

69.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.26 $1.26

-16.67%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$35.0K $35.0K

-13.19%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

0.93%

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

$245 $245

$193 $193

27.33%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$68.3 $68.3

-12.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 $57.2

$54.1 $54.1

5.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.28 $39.28

$27.92 $27.92

40.69%

Cinema Ticket

$19.17 $19.17

$17.74 $17.74

8.06%

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

$2,601 $2,601

$1,652 $1,652

57.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.2K $34.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

9.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$66.1 $66.1

2.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 $54.2

$51.2 $51.2

5.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 $83.3

$100 $100

-16.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$141 $141

-19.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$2,446 $2,446

-35.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 $1,277

$1,678 $1,678

-23.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,540 $2,540

$4,717 $4,717

-46.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,162 $2,162

$2,795 $2,795

-22.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,837 $2,837

$4,105 $4,105

-30.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,172 $2,172

$2,650 $2,650

-18.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,945 $4,945

$4,866 $4,866

1.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.81

-2.06%

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

Last update for Ridgewood, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Ridgewood, NJ

$1.3K 48.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 31.3% $400

Groceries & Markets

Ridgewood, NJ

$398 15%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 12.9% $51

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ridgewood, NJ

$366 13.8%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 12.1% $44

Eating Out

Ridgewood, NJ

$312 11.8%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 10.2% $32

Clothing & Footwear

Ridgewood, NJ

$143 5.4%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 12.5% $18

Sport & Entertainment

Ridgewood, NJ

$96 3.6%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 6.2% $6

Getting Around

Ridgewood, NJ

$57 2.1%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 67.8% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in Ridgewood, NJ versus $2,446 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 2% higher in Ridgewood, NJ, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Ridgewood, NJ versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $449 – making Ridgewood, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Ridgewood, NJ

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

00:35 12:35 AM

23:35 11:35 PM

1 h behind Ridgewood, NJ

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

25,272

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Ridgewood, NJ Chicago, IL 1,130 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Ridgewood, 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,649 in Ridgewood, NJ, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 18% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,974 per month in Ridgewood, NJ and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ridgewood, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $72.0 in Ridgewood, NJ and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,649 in Ridgewood, NJ and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,649 in Ridgewood, NJ to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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