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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $1,735 in Acworth, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $2,627 in Acworth, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $3,520 in Acworth, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 76% more expensive than Acworth, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Acworth, GA 29% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$16.70 $16.70

23.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$63.4 $63.4

58.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.85 $7.85

51.08%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$3.85 $3.85

43.90%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$2.34 $2.34

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.95 $1.95

27.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.02 $5.02

37.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.81 $6.81

19.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.76 $0.76

36.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.35 $3.35

16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$2.66 $2.66

103.76%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$4.37 $4.37

2.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$12.17 $12.17

19.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$11.08 $11.08

37.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$15.41 $15.41

24.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.71 $5.71

-5.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.08 $1.08

56.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.56 $3.56

21.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.39 $4.39

2.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.55 $1.55

65.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.23 $2.23

21.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.16 $2.16

11.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.52 $1.52

72.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$8.01 $8.01

87.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$13.75 $13.75

6.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.71 $1.71

45.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$2.05 $2.05

80.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.02 $2.02

26.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$5.08 $5.08

-35.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.50 $1.50

-4.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$17.98 $17.98

37.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.73 $0.73

49.32%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$28.2K $28.2K

12.42%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$23.9K $23.9K

10.80%

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

$183 $183

$123 $123

48.88%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$43.04 $43.04

43.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$56.9 $56.9

14.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$54.2 $54.2

40.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$8.74 $8.74

68.76%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$981 $981

109.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$8,493 $8,493

353.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$29.49 $29.49

116.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$36.13 $36.13

42.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$80.9 $80.9

20.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$75.4 $75.4

95.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$794 $794

195.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$710 $710

122.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$1,905 $1,905

147.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$1,203 $1,203

125.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$1,984 $1,984

32.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$10.5K $10.5K

-55.08%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Acworth, GA: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $794 in Acworth, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acworth, GA pays 123% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $63 in Acworth, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 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 76% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $1,735 including rent). Acworth, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Acworth, GA earns 123% less. 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $794 in Acworth, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $1,735 in Acworth, GA – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,735 in Acworth, GA versus $3,051 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 76% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.