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

😐 Solo nomad: Atlanta, GA is 1.3% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 0.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Atlanta, GA is 1.2% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.91 $20.91
$20.82 $20.82
0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.7 $90.7
$100 $100
-9.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.23 $12.23
$11.97 $11.97
2.17%
Cappuccino
$4.9 $4.9
$5.56 $5.56
-11.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.11 $3.11
-15.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.42 $2.42
-4.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.07 $6.07
$6.86 $6.86
-11.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.8 $7.8
$8.45 $8.45
-7.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.04 $1.04
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.15 $4.15
-5.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.6 $5.6
$5.52 $5.52
1.45%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$4.65 $4.65
-8.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.41 $13.41
$14.33 $14.33
-6.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.62 $15.62
$14.88 $14.88
4.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.65 $17.65
$19.34 $19.34
-8.74%
Apples (1kg)
$6.93 $6.93
$5.17 $5.17
34.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.71 $1.71
-11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$4.41 $4.41
48.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.9 $5.9
$4.51 $4.51
30.82%
Potato (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$2.53 $2.53
30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.74 $2.74
21.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.43 $2.43
-0.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$2.7 $2.7
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.64 $7.64
$15.19 $15.19
-49.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.46 $15.46
$16.42 $16.42
-5.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.35 $2.35
51.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.43 $5.43
$3.7 $3.7
46.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.53 $2.53
-3.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.3 $94.3
$74.1 $74.1
27.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.6 $3.6
$3.34 $3.34
7.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.42 $1.42
7.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.63 $23.63
$25.42 $25.42
-7.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.08 $1.08
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K $35.4K
$32.4K $32.4K
9.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$188 $188
3.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.2 $58.2
$63.7 $63.7
-8.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$65.2 $65.2
9.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.67 $45.67
$76.7 $76.7
-40.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.73 $9.73
$13.03 $13.03
-25.33%
Cinema Ticket
$16.15 $16.15
$14.93 $14.93
8.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,219 $1,219
$2,063 $2,063
-40.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.5K $25.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-34.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$64.3 $64.3
-20.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.11 $40.11
$52.4 $52.4
-23.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99 $99
$95.2 $95.2
4.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$145 $145
-21.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$2,378 $2,378
-25.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,503 $1,503
$1,584 $1,584
-5.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,995 $2,995
$4,763 $4,763
-37.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,307 $2,307
$2,815 $2,815
-18.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,918 $2,918
$3,588 $3,588
-18.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,286 $2,286
$2,490 $2,490
-8.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,932 $4,932
$5,275 $5,275
-6.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.6
-0.91%

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

Last update for Atlanta, GA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.