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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Rutherford, NJ is 4.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Rutherford, NJ is 0.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 14.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81 $19.81
$20.82 $20.82
-4.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$100 $100
19.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.02 $12.02
$11.97 $11.97
0.42%
Cappuccino
$5.76 $5.76
$5.56 $5.56
3.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.11 $3.11
-18.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$2.42 $2.42
-33.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.86 $6.86
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.2 $7.2
$8.45 $8.45
-14.79%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.04 $1.04
21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$4.46 $4.46
$4.15 $4.15
7.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.69 $5.69
$5.52 $5.52
3.08%
Eggs
$5.4 $5.4
$4.65 $4.65
16.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14 $14
$14.33 $14.33
-2.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.47 $10.47
$14.88 $14.88
-29.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.34 $15.34
$19.34 $19.34
-20.68%
Apples (1kg)
$5.59 $5.59
$5.17 $5.17
8.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.71 $1.71
53.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.41 $4.41
-4.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$4.51 $4.51
-5.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.53 $2.53
22.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.74 $2.74
-2.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.66 $2.66
$2.43 $2.43
9.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.7 $2.7
2.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.09 $15.09
$15.19 $15.19
-0.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$16.42 $16.42
-10.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.35 $2.35
-21.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 $3.51
$3.7 $3.7
-5.14%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.53 $2.53
-19.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$3.34 $3.34
-9.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.42 $1.42
50.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.35 $41.35
$25.42 $25.42
62.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.08 $1.08
-11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24K $24K
$32.4K $32.4K
-26.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K $24K
$26.2K $26.2K
-8.57%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
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)
$53.8 $53.8
$63.7 $63.7
-15.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.8 $69.8
$65.2 $65.2
7.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.66 $43.66
$76.7 $76.7
-43.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.97 $19.97
$14.93 $14.93
33.76%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,776 $1,776
$2,063 $2,063
-13.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K $14.4K
$39.2K $39.2K
-63.14%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.95 $49.95
$64.3 $64.3
-22.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 $59.4
$52.4 $52.4
13.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.1 $87.1
$95.2 $95.2
-8.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7 $96.7
$145 $145
-33.15%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$2,378 $2,378
-32.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 $1,346
$1,584 $1,584
-15.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,665 $2,665
$4,763 $4,763
-44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,236 $2,236
$2,815 $2,815
-20.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,770 $2,770
$3,588 $3,588
-22.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,773 $2,773
$2,490 $2,490
11.36%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Rutherford, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.7
6.6
1.52%

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

Last update for Rutherford, NJ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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