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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Alpharetta, GA is 5.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Alpharetta, GA is 9.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.96 $21.96
$20.62 $20.62
6.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61 $61
$101 $101
-39.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.79 $8.79
$11.78 $11.78
-25.38%
Cappuccino
$5.18 $5.18
$5.78 $5.78
-10.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.98 $2.98
-12.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.45 $2.45
-17.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.52 $6.52
$6.8 $6.8
-4.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.9 $7.9
$8.48 $8.48
-6.84%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.09 $1.09
-6.42%
White Bread (500g)
$3.97 $3.97
$4.1 $4.1
-3.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$5.36 $5.36
-11.19%
Eggs
$4.58 $4.58
$4.55 $4.55
0.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.52 $13.52
$14.35 $14.35
-5.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10 $10
$15.2 $15.2
-34.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.97 $19.97
$18.97 $18.97
5.27%
Apples (1kg)
$5.03 $5.03
$5.44 $5.44
-7.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.72 $1.72
-2.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$4.39 $4.39
4.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.42 $4.42
-10.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.57 $2.57
43.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.69 $2.69
28.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.41 $2.41
-4.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$2.72 $2.72
-7.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.66 $12.66
$14.82 $14.82
-14.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$16.71 $16.71
-11.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.45 $2.45
-31.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$3.58 $3.58
-55.59%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.54 $2.54
11.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.9 $95.9
$76.2 $76.2
25.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 $3.02
$3.31 $3.31
-8.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.39 $1.39
74.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.76 $39.76
$25.15 $25.15
58.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.05 $1.05
-18.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33K $33K
$31.5K $31.5K
4.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K $27K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.06%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$283 $283
$182 $182
55.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$62.6 $62.6
-13.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 $66.3
$66.5 $66.5
-0.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.66 $39.66
$77.7 $77.7
-48.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.1 $15.1
$13.18 $13.18
14.57%
Cinema Ticket
$16.27 $16.27
$14.98 $14.98
8.61%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,331 $1,331
$2,022 $2,022
-34.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.7K $29.7K
$39K $39K
-24.01%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1 $69.1
$63.3 $63.3
9.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.36 $39.36
$52.3 $52.3
-24.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 $99.8
$95.9 $95.9
4.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$148 $148
-14.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,793 $1,793
$2,302 $2,302
-22.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,759 $1,759
$1,622 $1,622
8.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
$4,642 $4,642
-28.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,612 $2,612
$2,815 $2,815
-7.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,544 $7,544
$3,708 $3,708
103.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,348 $5,348
$2,559 $2,559
109.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Alpharetta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,157 $6,157
$5,228 $5,228
17.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
6.6
-0.61%

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: November 5, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

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