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

🙂 Solo nomad: Trenton, NJ is 1.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Trenton, NJ is 13.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 10.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.46 $29.46

$20.82 $20.82

41.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.1 $81.1

$100 $100

-19.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 $14.88

$11.97 $11.97

24.31%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$5.56 $5.56

-3.96%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.11 $3.11

-5.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.42 $2.42

10.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 $8.14

$6.86 $6.86

18.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.98 $7.98

$8.45 $8.45

-5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.04 $1.04

8.65%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$4.15 $4.15

-0.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.27 $8.27

$5.52 $5.52

49.82%

Eggs

$4.2 $4.2

$4.65 $4.65

-9.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.58 $17.58

$14.33 $14.33

22.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.38 $16.38

$14.88 $14.88

10.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.07 $20.07

$19.34 $19.34

3.77%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 $7.43

$5.17 $5.17

43.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.71 $1.71

49.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.41 $4.41

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$4.51 $4.51

42.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.8 $2.8

$2.53 $2.53

10.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.7 $3.7

$2.74 $2.74

35.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.43 $2.43

3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.7 $2.7

-8.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.99 $10.99

$15.19 $15.19

-27.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.9 $7.9

$16.42 $16.42

-51.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.35 $2.35

-25.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 $3.71

$3.7 $3.7

0.27%

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)

$5.11 $5.11

$3.34 $3.34

52.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.42 $1.42

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.8 $42.8

$25.42 $25.42

68.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.08 $1.08

-15.74%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.62%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.36%

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

$182 $182

$188 $188

-3.25%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$63.7 $63.7

-6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$65.2 $65.2

-5.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.71 $42.71

$76.7 $76.7

-44.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$14.93 $14.93

0.13%

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

$1,891 $1,891

$2,063 $2,063

-8.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.5K $39.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

0.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 $67.4

$64.3 $64.3

4.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.36 $47.36

$52.4 $52.4

-9.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 $142

$95.2 $95.2

49.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$145 $145

19.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,613 $1,613

$2,378 $2,378

-32.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 $1,353

$1,584 $1,584

-14.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,579 $2,579

$4,763 $4,763

-45.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$2,815 $2,815

-21.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,146 $3,146

$3,588 $3,588

-12.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,133 $3,133

$2,490 $2,490

25.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,729 $3,729

$5,275 $5,275

-29.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.6

-0.76%

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

Last update for Trenton, NJ: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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