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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,817 per month in Toms River, NJ vs $3,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,299 per month in Toms River, NJ vs $4,628 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,782 per month in Toms River, NJ vs $6,179 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Toms River, NJ is about 8% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Toms River, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Toms River, NJ by 110%, Chicago, IL by 130%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.02 $18.02

$20.91 $20.91

-13.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$98.1 $98.1

-17.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.37 $11.37

$11.86 $11.86

-4.13%

Cappuccino

$5.00 $5.00

$5.60 $5.60

-10.71%

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

$2.37 $2.37

$3.07 $3.07

-22.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.47 $2.47

-48.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 $5.09

$7.14 $7.14

-28.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.43 $6.43

$8.08 $8.08

-20.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.05 $1.05

22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.99 $4.99

$4.11 $4.11

21.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$5.61 $5.61

-58.47%

Eggs

$4.46 $4.46

$4.51 $4.51

-1.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.12 $17.12

$14.27 $14.27

19.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.72 $16.72

$14.89 $14.89

12.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.29 $16.29

$19.19 $19.19

-15.11%

Apples (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.14 $5.14

14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.77 $1.77

-23.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$4.39 $4.39

17.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$4.56 $4.56

43.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.54 $2.54

-37.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.75 $2.75

-1.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.42 $2.42

5.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.62 $2.62

-22.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 $10.17

$14.92 $14.92

-31.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.80 $9.80

$14.80 $14.80

-33.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.46 $2.46

22.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.73 $3.73

3.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.48 $2.48

-17.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$3.18 $3.18

55.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.42 $1.42

51.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.83 $42.83

$24.94 $24.94

71.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.06 $1.06

-24.53%

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

$34.4K $34.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

7.70%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

9.46%

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

$178 $178

$185 $185

-3.56%

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

$29.73 $29.73

$61.7 $61.7

-51.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 $62.1

$66.9 $66.9

-7.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 $29.43

$75.2 $75.2

-60.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$14.71 $14.71

0.27%

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

$3,158 $3,158

$2,020 $2,020

56.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.8K $56.8K

$39.4K $39.4K

44.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 $66.0

$64.6 $64.6

2.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.87 $48.87

$52.5 $52.5

-6.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$97.8 $97.8

14.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$148 $148

17.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,666 $1,666

$2,313 $2,313

-27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,473 $1,473

$1,590 $1,590

-7.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 $2,833

$4,608 $4,608

-38.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,854 $2,854

$2,779 $2,779

2.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$5,217 $5,217

-8.60%

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 Toms River, NJ: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,666 in Toms River, NJ versus $2,313 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 9% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Toms River, NJ versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $452 in Toms River, NJ vs $447 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,817 in Toms River, NJ, $3,077 in Chicago, IL – roughly 9% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,225 per month in Toms River, NJ and $4,616 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Toms River, NJ and $98.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,817 in Toms River, NJ and $3,077 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 $2,817 in Toms River, NJ to $3,077 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 Toms River, 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.