Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany, GA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Albany, GA and Chicago, IL

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Albany, GA is 26.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20.6% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Albany, GA is 34.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 28.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.95 $19.95
$20.82 $20.82
-4.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61 $61
$100 $100
-39.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.05 $12.05
$11.97 $11.97
0.67%
Cappuccino
$4.75 $4.75
$5.56 $5.56
-14.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.11 $3.11
-15.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.42 $2.42
-3.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 $4.86
$6.86 $6.86
-29.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18 $5.18
$8.45 $8.45
-38.70%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.1 $1.1
$1.04 $1.04
5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 $1.54
$4.15 $4.15
-62.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$5.52 $5.52
-63.95%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$4.65 $4.65
-6.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.5 $7.5
$14.33 $14.33
-47.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.04 $9.04
$14.88 $14.88
-39.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.47 $10.47
$19.34 $19.34
-45.86%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.17 $5.17
-12.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.4 $1.4
$1.71 $1.71
-18.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$4.41 $4.41
-26.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$4.51 $4.51
-7.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.53 $2.53
6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.74 $2.74
20.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3 $3
$2.43 $2.43
23.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$2.7 $2.7
-3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.16 $8.16
$15.19 $15.19
-46.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.58 $13.58
$16.42 $16.42
-17.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.9 $1.9
$2.35 $2.35
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$3.7 $3.7
-6.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.53 $2.53
-31.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.46 $44.46
$74.1 $74.1
-40.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.34 $3.34
17.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.42 $1.42
74.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.1 $25.1
$25.42 $25.42
-1.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.08 $1.08
-17.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27K $27K
$32.4K $32.4K
-16.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
-3.16%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 $186
$188 $188
-1.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.25 $43.25
$63.7 $63.7
-32.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60 $60
$65.2 $65.2
-8.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.26 $15.26
$76.7 $76.7
-80.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.08 $11.08
$14.93 $14.93
-25.79%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$730 $730
$2,063 $2,063
-64.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K $11.1K
$39.2K $39.2K
-71.68%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 $55.1
$64.3 $64.3
-14.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47 $47
$52.4 $52.4
-10.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 $89.1
$95.2 $95.2
-6.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.6 $85.6
$145 $145
-40.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$2,378 $2,378
-44.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 $1,322
$1,584 $1,584
-16.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,527 $2,527
$4,763 $4,763
-46.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,977 $1,977
$2,815 $2,815
-29.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,232 $1,232
$3,588 $3,588
-65.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,230 $1,230
$2,490 $2,490
-50.61%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Albany, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,936 $2,936
$5,275 $5,275
-44.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.6
-1.06%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Albany, GA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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