Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Vineland, NJ: $2,556 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vineland, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,556
/mo nomad
Chicago, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vineland, NJ and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vineland, NJ and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,556 per month in Vineland, NJ vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Vineland, NJ $2,556
  • Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,739 per month in Vineland, NJ vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Vineland, NJ $3,739
  • Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,923 per month in Vineland, NJ vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

  • Vineland, NJ $4,923
  • Chicago, IL $6,115

Vineland, NJ is about 19% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Vineland, NJ and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Vineland, NJ by 89%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.21 $19.21
$20.65 $20.65
-6.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$90.2 $90.2
-17.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.20 $11.20
$12.94 $12.94
-13.45%
Cappuccino
$5.05 $5.05
$5.60 $5.60
-9.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.64 $2.64
-5.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.27 $2.27
-12.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 $5.95
$6.98 $6.98
-14.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 $7.03
$8.83 $8.83
-20.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.27 $1.27
-21.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.80 $3.80
-5.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$5.30 $5.30
-16.98%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$4.76 $4.76
-11.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.03 $12.03
$13.96 $13.96
-13.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.40 $11.40
$14.61 $14.61
-21.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.68 $15.68
$18.77 $18.77
-16.46%
Apples (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$5.19 $5.19
-7.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.98 $1.98
-21.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.93 $3.93
9.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.72 $4.72
$4.96 $4.96
-4.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 $2.76
$2.76 $2.76
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$2.76 $2.76
5.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.22 $2.22
-7.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.98 $2.98
-26.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62 $9.62
$14.02 $14.02
-31.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.79 $13.79
$15.28 $15.28
-9.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.58 $2.58
-29.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$3.50 $3.50
-2.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.47 $2.47
-20.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.8 $74.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.34 $3.34
7.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.43 $1.43
10.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.49 $29.49
$24.32 $24.32
21.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.26 $1.26
-27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$35.0K $35.0K
-16.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.1K $26.1K
-0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$193 $193
-3.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.2 $52.2
$68.3 $68.3
-23.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$61.3 $61.3
10.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.47 $42.47
$54.1 $54.1
-21.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.92 $27.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.23 $13.23
$17.74 $17.74
-25.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,302 $1,302
$1,652 $1,652
-21.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$31.1K $31.1K
-24.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 $51.4
$66.1 $66.1
-22.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12 $40.12
$51.2 $51.2
-21.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 $88.1
$100 $100
-11.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$141 $141
-20.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,611 $1,611
$2,446 $2,446
-34.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,334 $1,334
$1,678 $1,678
-20.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,597 $2,597
$4,717 $4,717
-44.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,209 $2,209
$2,795 $2,795
-20.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,803 $2,803
$4,105 $4,105
-31.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,405 $2,405
$2,650 $2,650
-9.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vineland, NJ
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$4,866 $4,866
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.81
-4.41%

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

Last update for Vineland, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vineland, NJ
$1.3K
Chicago, IL
$1.7K 25.8% $344
Groceries & Markets
Vineland, NJ
$387
Chicago, IL
$449 16.3% $63
Eating Out
Vineland, NJ
$310
Chicago, IL
$343 10.9% $34
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vineland, NJ
$306
Chicago, IL
$322 5.3% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Vineland, NJ
$131
Chicago, IL
$161 22.8% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Vineland, NJ
$69
Chicago, IL
$90 30% $21
Getting Around
Vineland, NJ
$19 *
Chicago, IL
$95 392% $76

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,611 in Vineland, NJ versus $2,446 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Vineland, NJ versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $449 – making Vineland, NJ the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Vineland, NJ
🇺🇸 Chicago, IL
🕒 Local time
22:15 10:15 PM
21:15 9:15 PM
1 h behind Vineland, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,724
2,746,388
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vineland, NJ Chicago, IL 1,090 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Vineland, NJ
  • Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Vineland, NJ vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Vineland, NJ and in Chicago, IL compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,556 in Vineland, NJ, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 23% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Vineland, NJ compared to Chicago, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,834 per month in Vineland, NJ and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Vineland, NJ and Chicago, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vineland, NJ, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Vineland, NJ and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,556 in Vineland, NJ and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Vineland, NJ and Chicago, IL?
It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,556 in Vineland, NJ to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Vineland, NJ and Chicago, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Vineland, 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.

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