Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Atlanta, GA: $2,947 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Chicago, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

143

Cost of Living Index in Atlanta, GA
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Atlanta, GA Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,947

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Atlanta, GA and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Atlanta, GA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,947 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Atlanta, GA $2,947
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $4,321 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Atlanta, GA $4,321
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $5,695 per month in Atlanta, GA vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Atlanta, GA $5,695
Chicago, IL $5,999

Atlanta, GA is about 3% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Atlanta, GA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Atlanta, GA by 117%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$31.94 $31.94

$20.71 $20.71

54.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$113 $113

$89.2 $89.2

26.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$13.19 $13.19

-7.88%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$5.66 $5.66

-0.35%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.64 $2.64

9.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.28 $2.28

-4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.52 $6.52

$6.87 $6.87

-5.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.95 $7.95

$8.84 $8.84

-10.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.25 $1.25

-26.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.72 $3.72

-7.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 $3.74

$5.39 $5.39

-30.61%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.74 $4.74

0.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$13.84 $13.84

0.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$14.40 $14.40

0.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$18.38 $18.38

7.13%

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$5.22 $5.22

11.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.98 $1.98

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$4.06 $4.06

49.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.45 $5.45

$4.97 $4.97

9.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.67 $2.67

37.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.66 $2.66

-3.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.24 $2.24

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$3.13 $3.13

-12.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.12 $9.12

$13.82 $13.82

-34.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.88 $14.88

-0.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.54 $2.54

49.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.10 $5.10

$3.51 $3.51

45.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.43 $2.43

0.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.4 $96.4

$73.5 $73.5

31.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.18 $3.18

9.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.39 $1.39

6.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.92 $23.92

$25.03 $25.03

-4.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.20 $1.20

-17.50%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.0K $35.0K

5.70%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.54%

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

$219 $219

$194 $194

12.60%

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

$70.6 $70.6

$69.5 $69.5

1.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$84.9 $84.9

$61.6 $61.6

37.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.53 $30.53

$47.90 $47.90

-36.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.12 $16.12

$27.34 $27.34

-41.04%

Cinema Ticket

$16.90 $16.90

$17.81 $17.81

-5.11%

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

$1,808 $1,808

$1,794 $1,794

0.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$31.9K $31.9K

-29.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 $52.3

$67.0 $67.0

-21.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.16 $44.16

$52.1 $52.1

-15.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 $98.2

$102 $102

-3.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$144 $144

-24.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$2,526 $2,526

-21.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 $1,369

$1,578 $1,578

-13.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,186 $3,186

$4,738 $4,738

-32.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 $2,070

$2,693 $2,693

-23.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,592 $3,592

$4,190 $4,190

-14.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$2,768 $2,768

-10.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,391 $5,391

$4,931 $4,931

9.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.81

-4.41%

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

Last update for Atlanta, GA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Atlanta, GA

$1.4K 46.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 15.2% $209

Groceries & Markets

Atlanta, GA

$458 15.5%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 2.2% $10

Eating Out

Atlanta, GA

$428 14.5%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 19.5% $83

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Atlanta, GA

$374 12.7%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 13% $49

Clothing & Footwear

Atlanta, GA

$136 4.6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 20.2% $28

Getting Around

Atlanta, GA

$117 4%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 20.2% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Atlanta, GA

$64 2.2%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 29.8% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,981 in Atlanta, GA versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Atlanta, GA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $113 in Atlanta, GA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $447 – making Chicago, IL the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Atlanta, GA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

12:45 12:45 PM

11:45 11:45 AM

1 h behind Atlanta, GA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

510,823

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL 920 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 3%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,421 per month in Atlanta, GA and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atlanta, GA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,981 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,947 in Atlanta, GA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. That makes Atlanta, GA about 3% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $1,808 per month in Atlanta, GA and $1,794 in Chicago, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,947 in Atlanta, GA and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Atlanta, GA costs $2,947 versus $3,037 in Chicago, IL. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.