Cost of Living Comparison Between West Caldwell, NJ and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between West Caldwell, NJ and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: West Caldwell, NJ is 24.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 19.6% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: West Caldwell, NJ is 11.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.12 $17.12

$20.82 $20.82

-17.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.6 $75.6

$100 $100

-24.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.07 $13.07

$11.97 $11.97

9.19%

Cappuccino

$4.93 $4.93

$5.56 $5.56

-11.33%

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

$2.44 $2.44

$3.11 $3.11

-21.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.42 $2.42

-8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.95 $5.95

$6.86 $6.86

-13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 $7.05

$8.45 $8.45

-16.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.04 $1.04

13.46%

White Bread (500g)

$6.21 $6.21

$4.15 $4.15

49.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.05 $9.05

$5.52 $5.52

63.95%

Eggs

$5.75 $5.75

$4.65 $4.65

23.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 $9.91

$14.33 $14.33

-30.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.48 $10.48

$14.88 $14.88

-29.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.01 $18.01

$19.34 $19.34

-6.88%

Apples (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$5.17 $5.17

27.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.71 $1.71

30.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.5 $4.5

$4.41 $4.41

2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.51 $4.51

9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.53 $2.53

72.33%

Onion (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.74 $2.74

62.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.43 $2.43

2.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.7 $2.7

-17.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.4 $13.4

$15.19 $15.19

-11.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$16.42 $16.42

-6.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.35 $2.35

-22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 $3.61

$3.7 $3.7

-2.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.53 $2.53

-23.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.34 $3.34

84.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.42 $1.42

-3.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.81 $28.81

$25.42 $25.42

13.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.08 $1.08

-18.52%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$32.4K $32.4K

-8.45%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.45%

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

$75.1 $75.1

$188 $188

-60.12%

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

$43.93 $43.93

$63.7 $63.7

-31.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.5 $56.5

$65.2 $65.2

-13.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.61 $43.61

$76.7 $76.7

-43.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$12.7 $12.7

$14.93 $14.93

-14.94%

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

$1,413 $1,413

$2,063 $2,063

-31.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K $23.3K

$39.2K $39.2K

-40.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.27 $37.27

$64.3 $64.3

-42.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.34 $24.34

$52.4 $52.4

-53.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 $75.5

$95.2 $95.2

-20.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 $71.3

$145 $145

-50.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,599 $1,599

$2,378 $2,378

-32.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,375 $1,375

$1,584 $1,584

-13.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,594 $2,594

$4,763 $4,763

-45.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,209 $2,209

$2,815 $2,815

-21.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,881 $2,881

$3,588 $3,588

-19.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,648 $2,648

$2,490 $2,490

6.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,027 $3,027

$5,275 $5,275

-42.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.6

-0.45%

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

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: October 26, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Berlin

🇩🇪 Germany

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Montreal

🇨🇦 Canada

Vienna

🇦🇹 Austria

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

Perth

🇦🇺 Australia

Auckland

🇳🇿 New Zealand

Edmonton

🇨🇦 Canada