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

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Athens, TN is 27.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 15.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Athens, TN is 32.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 25% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.83 $21.83
$20.82 $20.82
4.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.81 $34.81
$100 $100
-65.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.16 $9.16
$11.97 $11.97
-23.48%
Cappuccino
$2.96 $2.96
$5.56 $5.56
-46.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$3.11 $3.11
-33.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$2.42 $2.42
-14.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.66 $6.66
$6.86 $6.86
-2.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.79 $7.79
$8.45 $8.45
-7.81%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.04 $1.04
-9.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 $2.32
$4.15 $4.15
-44.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$5.52 $5.52
-15.94%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.65 $4.65
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.47 $13.47
$14.33 $14.33
-6.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$14.88 $14.88
-56.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 $10.86
$19.34 $19.34
-43.85%
Apples (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$5.17 $5.17
-13.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$4.41 $4.41
5.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$4.51 $4.51
-9.53%
Potato (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$2.53 $2.53
43.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.74 $2.74
27.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.43 $2.43
-2.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 $1.82
$2.7 $2.7
-32.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.05 $7.05
$15.19 $15.19
-53.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.04 $15.04
$16.42 $16.42
-8.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.35 $2.35
-25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$3.7 $3.7
-57.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.53 $2.53
-21.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$74.1 $74.1
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.34 $3.34
-7.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.42 $1.42
5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.84 $39.84
$25.42 $25.42
56.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.08 $1.08
-19.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K $32.8K
$32.4K $32.4K
1.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.78%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$240 $240
$188 $188
27.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 $53.4
$63.7 $63.7
-16.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$65.2 $65.2
-10.43%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.84 $43.84
$76.7 $76.7
-42.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.86 $7.86
$14.93 $14.93
-47.35%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,345 $1,345
$2,063 $2,063
-34.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.5K $29.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-24.64%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3 $68.3
$64.3 $64.3
6.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.21 $39.21
$52.4 $52.4
-25.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$95.2 $95.2
7.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$145 $145
-12.86%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 $1,633
$2,378 $2,378
-31.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,376 $1,376
$1,584 $1,584
-13.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,615 $2,615
$4,763 $4,763
-45.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 $2,179
$2,815 $2,815
-22.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,722 $2,722
$3,588 $3,588
-24.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,459 $2,459
$2,490 $2,490
-1.24%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Athens, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,328 $8,328
$5,275 $5,275
57.87%
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 Athens, TN: October 27, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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