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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,084 in Chicago, IL versus $1,733 in Acworth, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,637 in Chicago, IL versus $2,614 in Acworth, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,191 in Chicago, IL versus $3,496 in Acworth, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 78% more expensive than in Acworth, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Acworth, GA 30% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$16.61 $16.61

25.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.6 $98.6

$62.7 $62.7

57.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$8.19 $8.19

45.30%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$3.85 $3.85

51.69%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.39 $2.39

28.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.98 $1.98

18.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.14 $5.14

33.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.02 $7.02

14.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.80 $0.80

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$3.98 $3.98

$3.39 $3.39

17.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$2.62 $2.62

113.74%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$4.24 $4.24

7.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 $14.20

$11.98 $11.98

18.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.90 $14.90

$11.19 $11.19

33.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.08 $19.08

$15.51 $15.51

23.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$5.69 $5.69

-6.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.11 $1.11

54.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.51 $3.51

20.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.31 $4.31

1.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.51 $1.51

69.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.23 $2.23

25.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.09 $2.09

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.57 $1.57

71.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.95 $14.95

$7.98 $7.98

87.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 $14.73

$13.97 $13.97

5.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.65 $1.65

43.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.02 $2.02

76.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.02 $2.02

20.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.2 $75.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 $3.35

$4.93 $4.93

-32.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.52 $1.52

-9.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.29 $25.29

$17.77 $17.77

42.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.79 $0.79

37.97%

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

$32.3K $32.3K

$28.0K $28.0K

15.12%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.6K $23.6K

11.99%

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

$188 $188

$126 $126

49.38%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$43.52 $43.52

45.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$56.9 $56.9

16.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.6 $75.6

$54.0 $54.0

39.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.20 $13.20

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$8.29 $8.29

78.53%

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

$2,097 $2,097

$978 $978

114.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$8,291 $8,291

364.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$30.51 $30.51

112.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$36.34 $36.34

41.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 $96.3

$79.8 $79.8

20.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 $146

$73.5 $73.5

98.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$801 $801

191.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 $1,579

$687 $687

129.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,775 $4,775

$1,937 $1,937

146.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,725 $2,725

$1,186 $1,186

129.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,023 $4,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,684 $2,684

$2,011 $2,011

33.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,981 $4,981

$10.6K $10.6K

-53.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

5.75

14.78%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 20, 2026

Last update for Acworth, GA: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,332 in Chicago, IL and $801 in Acworth, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acworth, GA pays 113% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $63.0 in Acworth, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $445 vs $355 per month, with Acworth, GA cheaper across the board.

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

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

Chicago, IL and Acworth, GA differ by about 78% in total monthly costs ($3,084 vs $1,733 including rent). Acworth, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 113% lower in Acworth, GA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,332 in Chicago, IL versus $801 in Acworth, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,084 per month in Chicago, IL versus $1,733 in Acworth, GA – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,733 in Acworth, GA versus $3,084 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Acworth, GA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Acworth, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Acworth, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.