Cost of living comparison
New Jersey is 6.6% cheaper than Chicago.
- Restaurants
-
pay 15.1% less in New Jersey
- Groceries
-
pay 2.2% more in New Jersey
- Transportation
-
pay 26.2% more in New Jersey
- Housing
-
pay 0.9% more in New Jersey
- Childcare
-
pay 34.0% less in New Jersey
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.5% less in New Jersey
- Clothing
-
pay 12.8% less in New Jersey
The cost of transportation, groceries, and housing in New Jersey are more expensive than in Chicago. Expenses including childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and clothing are lower in New Jersey.
If you lived in New Jersey instead of Chicago, you would:
pay 15.1% less for restaurants
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$19.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.34
|
$11.19
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.02
|
$2.49
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.44
|
$2.02
|
|
pay 2.2% more for groceries
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.19
|
$3.89
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.87
|
$7.30
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.94
|
$4.36
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.75
|
$3.63
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.63
|
$5.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.44
|
$2.60
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.10
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$2.65
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.16
|
$1.28
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.59
|
|
pay 26.2% more for transportation
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.16
|
$3.49
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$133.88
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,965.00
|
$31,750.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.43
|
$20.65
|
|
pay 0.9% more for housing
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$58.52
|
$58.37
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,360.96
|
$2,167.23
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,512.92
|
$1,865.29
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$126.63
|
$112.29
|
|
pay 34.0% less for childcare
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,475.00
|
$1,618.98
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$42,300.00
|
$28,166.67
|
|
pay 13.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.50
|
$6.72
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.30
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$17.00
|
$11.57
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$72.00
|
$54.75
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.00
|
$15.73
|
|
pay 12.8% less for clothing
|
Chicago
|
New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$64.98
|
$53.04
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$51.67
|
$45.58
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.00
|
$91.11
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$146.00
|
$124.03
|
|
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