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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Summit, NJ is 22.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Summit, NJ is 6.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 13.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.11 $20.11
$20.82 $20.82
-3.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$100 $100
0.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.81 $13.81
$11.97 $11.97
15.37%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$5.56 $5.56
-8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.11 $3.11
-20.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.42 $2.42
-15.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.04 $8.04
$6.86 $6.86
17.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 $7.82
$8.45 $8.45
-7.46%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.04 $1.04
23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$3.88 $3.88
$4.15 $4.15
-6.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.35 $5.35
$5.52 $5.52
-3.08%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.65 $4.65
-9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.02 $25.02
$14.33 $14.33
74.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12 $12
$14.88 $14.88
-19.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.47 $17.47
$19.34 $19.34
-9.67%
Apples (1kg)
$7.22 $7.22
$5.17 $5.17
39.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.71 $1.71
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.41 $4.41
-8.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$4.51 $4.51
-8.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.53 $2.53
5.53%
Onion (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.74 $2.74
39.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.43 $2.43
2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.7 $2.7
-0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.06 $11.06
$15.19 $15.19
-27.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.05 $19.05
$16.42 $16.42
16.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.35 $2.35
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34 $6.34
$3.7 $3.7
71.35%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.53 $2.53
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.34 $3.34
-8.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.42 $1.42
41.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.39 $24.39
$25.42 $25.42
-4.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.08 $1.08
-13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$32.4K $32.4K
-6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-4.17%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 $180
$188 $188
-4.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.57 $49.57
$63.7 $63.7
-22.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7 $54.7
$65.2 $65.2
-16.09%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.46 $42.46
$76.7 $76.7
-44.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.88 $14.88
$14.93 $14.93
-0.33%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,861 $1,861
$2,063 $2,063
-9.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K $24K
$39.2K $39.2K
-38.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71 $71
$64.3 $64.3
10.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 $55.1
$52.4 $52.4
5.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.8 $74.8
$95.2 $95.2
-21.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$145 $145
-6.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,780 $2,780
$2,378 $2,378
16.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 $1,348
$1,584 $1,584
-14.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,506 $5,506
$4,763 $4,763
15.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,221 $2,221
$2,815 $2,815
-21.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,670 $2,670
$3,588 $3,588
-25.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,623 $2,623
$2,490 $2,490
5.33%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Summit, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$5,275 $5,275
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
6.6
-0.76%

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

Last update for Summit, NJ: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.