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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,242 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,077 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,516 in Alpharetta, GA versus $4,628 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,791 in Alpharetta, GA versus $6,179 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Alpharetta, GA is roughly 5% more expensive than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 142% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.29 $22.29

$20.91 $20.91

6.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.9 $58.9

$98.1 $98.1

-39.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 $9.24

$11.86 $11.86

-22.09%

Cappuccino

$5.29 $5.29

$5.60 $5.60

-5.54%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$3.07 $3.07

-18.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.47 $2.47

-18.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.34 $6.34

$7.14 $7.14

-11.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.19 $8.19

$8.08 $8.08

1.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.05 $1.05

-2.86%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$4.11 $4.11

-2.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.61 $5.61

-18.54%

Eggs

$4.45 $4.45

$4.51 $4.51

-1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 $13.25

$14.27 $14.27

-7.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.69 $9.69

$14.89 $14.89

-34.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$19.19 $19.19

3.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$5.14 $5.14

-5.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.77 $1.77

-2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$4.39 $4.39

4.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.56 $4.56

-11.62%

Potato (1kg)

$3.64 $3.64

$2.54 $2.54

43.31%

Onion (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.75 $2.75

26.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.42 $2.42

-4.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.62 $2.62

-1.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.37 $12.37

$14.92 $14.92

-17.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 $14.87

$14.80 $14.80

0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.46 $2.46

-30.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$3.73 $3.73

-57.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.48 $2.48

8.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.8 $96.8

$75.4 $75.4

28.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.18 $3.18

-4.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.42 $1.42

67.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.75 $40.75

$24.94 $24.94

63.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.06 $1.06

-23.58%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$31.9K $31.9K

2.28%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

2.27%

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

$283 $283

$185 $185

52.89%

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

$54.2 $54.2

$61.7 $61.7

-12.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.4 $67.4

$66.9 $66.9

0.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.69 $40.69

$75.2 $75.2

-45.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.06 $15.06

$13.08 $13.08

15.14%

Cinema Ticket

$16.19 $16.19

$14.71 $14.71

10.06%

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

$1,330 $1,330

$2,020 $2,020

-34.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K $30.3K

$39.4K $39.4K

-23.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 $68.3

$64.6 $64.6

5.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.53 $39.53

$52.5 $52.5

-24.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$97.8 $97.8

5.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$148 $148

-11.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 $1,826

$2,313 $2,313

-21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 $1,755

$1,590 $1,590

10.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,343 $3,343

$4,608 $4,608

-27.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,583 $2,583

$2,779 $2,779

-7.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,562 $7,562

$3,922 $3,922

92.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,251 $5,251

$2,613 $2,613

100.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,394 $6,394

$5,217 $5,217

22.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.6

-0.61%

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

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,826 in Alpharetta, GA and $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $98.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $447 per month, with Alpharetta, GA cheaper across the board.

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

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

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Alpharetta, GA pays 23% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,826 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,313 in Chicago, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 28% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,330 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,020 in Chicago, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alpharetta, GA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.