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

😐 Solo nomad: Somerset, NJ is 1.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 36.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Somerset, NJ is 10% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.16 $20.16
$20.82 $20.82
-3.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 $79.4
$100 $100
-20.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 $12.36
$11.97 $11.97
3.26%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$5.56 $5.56
-8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.11 $3.11
-21.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.42 $2.42
5.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.98 $7.98
$6.86 $6.86
16.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.96 $9.96
$8.45 $8.45
17.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.04 $1.04
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.95 $3.95
$4.15 $4.15
-4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.16 $8.16
$5.52 $5.52
47.83%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$4.65 $4.65
-10.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.5 $17.5
$14.33 $14.33
22.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.66 $16.66
$14.88 $14.88
11.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.8 $19.8
$19.34 $19.34
2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$7.45 $7.45
$5.17 $5.17
44.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.71 $1.71
42.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$4.41 $4.41
21.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.13 $6.13
$4.51 $4.51
35.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.53 $2.53
11.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.71 $3.71
$2.74 $2.74
35.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.43 $2.43
4.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.7 $2.7
-5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.81 $10.81
$15.19 $15.19
-28.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.05 $19.05
$16.42 $16.42
16.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$2.35 $2.35
-25.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.7 $3.7
5.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.53 $2.53
-19.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 $4.92
$3.34 $3.34
47.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.42 $1.42
16.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.73 $42.73
$25.42 $25.42
68.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.08 $1.08
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
-7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 $178
$188 $188
-5.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.61 $49.61
$63.7 $63.7
-22.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 $56.3
$65.2 $65.2
-13.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.32 $42.32
$76.7 $76.7
-44.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.92 $14.92
$14.93 $14.93
-0.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,825 $1,825
$2,063 $2,063
-11.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.8K $39.8K
$39.2K $39.2K
1.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67 $67
$64.3 $64.3
4.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.4 $48.4
$52.4 $52.4
-7.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$95.2 $95.2
20.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$145 $145
18.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,582 $1,582
$2,378 $2,378
-33.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,672 $2,672
$1,584 $1,584
68.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,585 $2,585
$4,763 $4,763
-45.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,257 $2,257
$2,815 $2,815
-19.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,738 $2,738
$3,588 $3,588
-23.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,424 $2,424
$2,490 $2,490
-2.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Somerset, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,080 $5,080
$5,275 $5,275
-3.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%

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

Last update for Somerset, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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