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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Athens, GA is 24.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 26.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Athens, GA is 20.6% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 24.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.75 $14.75
$20.82 $20.82
-29.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9 $78.9
$100 $100
-21.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.8 $10.8
$11.97 $11.97
-9.77%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$5.56 $5.56
0.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$3.11 $3.11
-19.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$2.42 $2.42
-31.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 $7.19
$6.86 $6.86
4.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 $8.19
$8.45 $8.45
-3.08%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.04 $1.04
-18.27%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 $3.03
$4.15 $4.15
-26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$5.52 $5.52
-23.01%
Eggs
$2.91 $2.91
$4.65 $4.65
-37.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.68 $7.68
$14.33 $14.33
-46.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.87 $11.87
$14.88 $14.88
-20.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.5 $13.5
$19.34 $19.34
-30.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.17 $5.17
-14.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.71 $1.71
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$4.41 $4.41
0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$4.51 $4.51
7.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.53 $2.53
10.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.74 $2.74
-2.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.43 $2.43
-5.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.7 $2.7
-22.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.29 $7.29
$15.19 $15.19
-52.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 $18.57
$16.42 $16.42
13.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.35 $2.35
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.7 $4.7
$3.7 $3.7
27.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.9 $0.9
$2.53 $2.53
-64.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.54 $31.54
$74.1 $74.1
-57.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 $4.47
$3.34 $3.34
33.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.9 $1.9
$1.42 $1.42
33.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.86 $42.86
$25.42 $25.42
68.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.08 $1.08
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$32.4K $32.4K
-10.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-7.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 $172
$188 $188
-8.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.92 $36.92
$63.7 $63.7
-42.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.6 $63.6
$65.2 $65.2
-2.42%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.88 $24.88
$76.7 $76.7
-67.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.83 $12.83
$14.93 $14.93
-14.07%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$858 $858
$2,063 $2,063
-58.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,502 $9,502
$39.2K $39.2K
-75.75%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59 $59
$64.3 $64.3
-8.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.23 $32.23
$52.4 $52.4
-38.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 $79.4
$95.2 $95.2
-16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.9 $55.9
$145 $145
-61.33%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 $1,534
$2,378 $2,378
-35.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 $1,053
$1,584 $1,584
-33.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,712 $2,712
$4,763 $4,763
-43.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,087 $2,087
$2,815 $2,815
-25.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,463 $2,463
$3,588 $3,588
-31.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,342 $2,342
$2,490 $2,490
-5.96%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Athens, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,331 $3,331
$5,275 $5,275
-36.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
6.6
-1.97%

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

Last update for Athens, GA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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