Cost of Living Comparison Between Toms River, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Toms River, NJ and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Toms River, NJ is 6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 8.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Toms River, NJ is 20.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.93 $17.93
$20.82 $20.82
-13.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 $81.9
$100 $100
-18.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.3 $11.3
$11.97 $11.97
-5.60%
Cappuccino
$4.97 $4.97
$5.56 $5.56
-10.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$3.11 $3.11
-23.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 $1.33
$2.42 $2.42
-45.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.96 $4.96
$6.86 $6.86
-27.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.65 $6.65
$8.45 $8.45
-21.30%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.04 $1.04
27.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.98 $4.98
$4.15 $4.15
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$5.52 $5.52
-55.62%
Eggs
$4.68 $4.68
$4.65 $4.65
0.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.34 $17.34
$14.33 $14.33
21.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.76 $16.76
$14.88 $14.88
12.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.48 $16.48
$19.34 $19.34
-14.79%
Apples (1kg)
$6.03 $6.03
$5.17 $5.17
16.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.71 $1.71
-24.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.04 $5.04
$4.41 $4.41
14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$4.51 $4.51
43.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.53 $2.53
-37.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.74 $2.74
-2.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.43 $2.43
2.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.7 $2.7
-25.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.8 $9.8
$15.19 $15.19
-35.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.21 $10.21
$16.42 $16.42
-37.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.35 $2.35
24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$3.7 $3.7
3.24%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.53 $2.53
-22.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 $5.07
$3.34 $3.34
51.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.42 $1.42
52.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.68 $41.68
$25.42 $25.42
63.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.08 $1.08
-23.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$32.4K $32.4K
7.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
7.99%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 $183
$188 $188
-2.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.83 $29.83
$63.7 $63.7
-53.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$65.2 $65.2
-2.10%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.16 $30.16
$76.7 $76.7
-60.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$14.93 $14.93
-1.14%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,104 $3,104
$2,063 $2,063
50.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.9K $56.9K
$39.2K $39.2K
45.28%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67 $67
$64.3 $64.3
4.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.89 $47.89
$52.4 $52.4
-8.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 $114
$95.2 $95.2
19.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$168 $168
$145 $145
16.09%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,629 $1,629
$2,378 $2,378
-31.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,485 $1,485
$1,584 $1,584
-6.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,905 $2,905
$4,763 $4,763
-39.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,762 $2,762
$2,815 $2,815
-1.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,680 $2,680
$3,588 $3,588
-25.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 $2,512
$2,490 $2,490
0.89%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Toms River, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,020 $5,020
$5,275 $5,275
-4.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.6
-2.42%

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

Last update for Toms River, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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