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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chattanooga, TN is 17.8% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 17.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chattanooga, TN is 22.9% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 21% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52 $16.52
$20.82 $20.82
-20.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 $79.1
$100 $100
-21.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.85 $10.85
$11.97 $11.97
-9.36%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$5.56 $5.56
-14.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.11 $3.11
-17.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.42 $2.42
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.08 $6.08
$6.86 $6.86
-11.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47 $7.47
$8.45 $8.45
-11.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.04 $1.04
-1.92%
White Bread (500g)
$3.61 $3.61
$4.15 $4.15
-13.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$5.52 $5.52
-15.22%
Eggs
$4.25 $4.25
$4.65 $4.65
-8.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.42 $13.42
$14.33 $14.33
-6.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.63 $13.63
$14.88 $14.88
-8.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.83 $12.83
$19.34 $19.34
-33.66%
Apples (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$5.17 $5.17
25.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.71 $1.71
-12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.4 $4.4
$4.41 $4.41
-0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$4.51 $4.51
-19.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.53 $2.53
31.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.38 $3.38
$2.74 $2.74
23.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.3 $2.3
$2.43 $2.43
-5.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.7 $2.7
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.33 $7.33
$15.19 $15.19
-51.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.9 $13.9
$16.42 $16.42
-15.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.35 $2.35
-17.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.7 $3.7
-4.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.9 $3.9
$2.53 $2.53
54.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.54 $49.54
$74.1 $74.1
-33.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 $1.78
$3.34 $3.34
-46.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.42 $1.42
10.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.05 $24.05
$25.42 $25.42
-5.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.08 $1.08
-31.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25K $25K
$32.4K $32.4K
-22.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 $139
$188 $188
-26.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.7 $56.7
$63.7 $63.7
-10.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6 $72.6
$65.2 $65.2
11.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.58 $40.58
$76.7 $76.7
-47.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$13.03 $13.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.47 $12.47
$14.93 $14.93
-16.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,030 $1,030
$2,063 $2,063
-50.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$39.2K $39.2K
-37.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.76 $40.76
$64.3 $64.3
-36.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.09 $32.09
$52.4 $52.4
-38.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 $98.2
$95.2 $95.2
3.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$145 $145
-22.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 $1,493
$2,378 $2,378
-37.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,278 $1,278
$1,584 $1,584
-19.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,635 $3,635
$4,763 $4,763
-23.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,164 $2,164
$2,815 $2,815
-23.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,776 $2,776
$3,588 $3,588
-22.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,200 $2,200
$2,490 $2,490
-11.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,039 $4,039
$5,275 $5,275
-23.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
6.6
-2.27%

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

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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