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: $3,182 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,068 in Chicago, IL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,521 in Alpharetta, GA versus $4,648 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,860 in Alpharetta, GA versus $6,229 in Chicago, IL.

Living in Alpharetta, GA is roughly 4% more expensive than in Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 138% above, Chicago, IL 130% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.66 $21.66

$20.17 $20.17

7.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.4 $60.4

$99.5 $99.5

-39.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.04 $9.04

$12.23 $12.23

-26.08%

Cappuccino

$5.16 $5.16

$5.60 $5.60

-7.86%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$3.12 $3.12

-20.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.43 $2.43

-17.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.46 $6.46

$6.93 $6.93

-6.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.20 $8.20

-4.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.08 $1.08

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 $3.86

$3.97 $3.97

-2.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$5.58 $5.58

-18.64%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 $13.34

$14.50 $14.50

-8.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.86 $9.86

$15.08 $15.08

-34.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.24 $20.24

$19.34 $19.34

4.65%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.37 $5.37

-5.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.76 $1.76

-4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$4.32 $4.32

7.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.41 $4.41

-7.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.54 $2.54

45.28%

Onion (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.70 $2.70

30.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.49 $2.49

-4.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.60 $2.60

-3.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.63 $12.63

$14.80 $14.80

-14.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.25 $15.25

$15.18 $15.18

0.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.47 $2.47

-30.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$3.60 $3.60

-56.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.54 $2.54

11.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.5 $96.5

$76.3 $76.3

26.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.30 $3.30

-9.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.38 $1.38

72.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.46 $39.46

$25.36 $25.36

55.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.09 $1.09

-19.27%

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$31.6K $31.6K

3.43%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.21%

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

$279 $279

$186 $186

49.75%

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

$53.5 $53.5

$62.9 $62.9

-14.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.3 $65.3

$66.2 $66.2

-1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.61 $39.61

$77.6 $77.6

-48.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.79 $14.79

$13.16 $13.16

12.39%

Cinema Ticket

$16.13 $16.13

$14.74 $14.74

9.43%

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

$1,317 $1,317

$2,039 $2,039

-35.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.6K $29.6K

$39.9K $39.9K

-25.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.0 $69.0

$63.9 $63.9

8.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 $39.96

$51.2 $51.2

-21.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$95.2 $95.2

8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$144 $144

-12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,784 $1,784

$2,305 $2,305

-22.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,758 $1,758

$1,575 $1,575

11.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,343 $3,343

$4,688 $4,688

-28.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,669 $2,669

$2,737 $2,737

-2.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,654 $7,654

$4,063 $4,063

88.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,295 $5,295

$2,696 $2,696

96.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,290 $6,290

$5,019 $5,019

25.31%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,784 in Alpharetta, GA and $2,305 in Chicago, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 25% 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: $60.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $99.0 in Chicago, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $448 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 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Alpharetta, GA, 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: $1,784 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,305 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 27% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,317 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,039 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 4% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.