Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Albany, GA: $2,411 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

117

Cost of Living Index in Albany, GA
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Albany, GA Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Albany, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,411

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Albany, GA 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 Albany, GA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,411 per month in Albany, GA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Albany, GA $2,411
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $3,357 per month in Albany, GA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Albany, GA $3,357
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $4,302 per month in Albany, GA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Albany, GA $4,302
Chicago, IL $6,115

Albany, GA is about 23% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Albany, GA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Albany, GA by 78%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.35 $13.35

$20.65 $20.65

-35.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.44 $49.44

$90.2 $90.2

-45.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 $10.37

$12.94 $12.94

-19.86%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$5.60 $5.60

-2.86%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.64 $2.64

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.27 $2.27

-4.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.54 $7.54

$6.98 $6.98

8.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 $5.62

$8.83 $8.83

-36.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.27 $1.27

-34.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.80 $3.80

-57.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$5.30 $5.30

-62.45%

Eggs

$3.28 $3.28

$4.76 $4.76

-31.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 $7.73

$13.96 $13.96

-44.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.41 $10.41

$14.61 $14.61

-28.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 $10.39

$18.77 $18.77

-44.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$5.19 $5.19

13.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.98 $1.98

-31.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$3.93 $3.93

57.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.96 $4.96

-2.42%

Potato (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$2.76 $2.76

53.99%

Onion (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$2.76 $2.76

47.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.22 $2.22

19.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.98 $2.98

-31.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.95 $8.95

$14.02 $14.02

-36.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.15 $18.15

$15.28 $15.28

18.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.58 $2.58

-32.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

$3.50 $3.50

69.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.47 $2.47

-30.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.07 $45.07

$74.8 $74.8

-39.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.26 $1.26

-32.54%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$35.0K $35.0K

-19.84%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.1K $26.1K

2.80%

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

$185 $185

$193 $193

-3.75%

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

$41.28 $41.28

$68.3 $68.3

-39.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.3 $82.3

$61.3 $61.3

34.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.04 $15.04

$54.1 $54.1

-72.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$10.91 $10.91

$17.74 $17.74

-38.50%

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

$733 $733

$1,652 $1,652

-55.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,445 $9,445

$31.1K $31.1K

-69.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$66.1 $66.1

-18.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.58 $32.58

$51.2 $51.2

-36.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 $66.2

$100 $100

-33.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.2 $54.2

$141 $141

-61.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,297 $1,297

$2,446 $2,446

-46.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 $1,296

$1,678 $1,678

-22.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,539 $2,539

$4,717 $4,717

-46.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,980 $1,980

$2,795 $2,795

-29.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,269 $1,269

$4,105 $4,105

-69.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,243 $1,243

$2,650 $2,650

-53.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,025 $3,025

$4,866 $4,866

-37.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.72

6.81

-1.32%

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

Last update for Albany, GA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Albany, GA

$1.3K 53.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 29.4% $382

Groceries & Markets

Albany, GA

$351 14.6%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 28% $98

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Albany, GA

$309 12.8%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 4.3% $13

Eating Out

Albany, GA

$273 11.3%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 26% $71

Clothing & Footwear

Albany, GA

$93 3.9%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 73% $68

Getting Around

Albany, GA

$52 * 2.2%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 83.2% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Albany, GA

$37 1.5%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 143% $53

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,297 in Albany, GA 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.

Salaries run about 61% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Albany, GA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $449 – making Albany, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Albany, GA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

06:20 6:20 AM

05:20 5:20 AM

1 h behind Albany, GA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

99,224

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Albany, GA Chicago, IL 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Albany, GA
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

Albany, GA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 30%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,617 per month in Albany, GA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Albany, GA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $733 per month in Albany, GA and $1,652 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Albany, GA, where all-in costs run around $2,411, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Albany, GA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Albany, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Albany, GA. 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.