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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 5.9% more expensive than Alpharetta, GA without rent, and 5.1% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 10.1% more expensive than Alpharetta, GA without rent, and 5.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.62 $20.62
$21.96 $21.96
-6.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$61 $61
65.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 $11.78
$8.79 $8.79
34.02%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$5.18 $5.18
11.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.62 $2.62
13.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.02 $2.02
21.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.8 $6.8
$6.52 $6.52
4.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.48 $8.48
$7.9 $7.9
7.34%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.02 $1.02
6.86%
White Bread (500g)
$4.1 $4.1
$3.97 $3.97
3.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$4.76 $4.76
12.61%
Eggs
$4.55 $4.55
$4.58 $4.58
-0.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.35 $14.35
$13.52 $13.52
6.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.2 $15.2
$10 $10
52.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 $18.97
$19.97 $19.97
-5.01%
Apples (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$5.03 $5.03
8.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.68 $1.68
2.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.6 $4.6
-4.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$3.94 $3.94
12.18%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.68 $3.68
-30.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$3.46 $3.46
-22.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.29 $2.29
5.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.72 $2.72
$2.51 $2.51
8.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.82 $14.82
$12.66 $12.66
17.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 $16.71
$14.77 $14.77
13.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.69 $1.69
44.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$1.59 $1.59
125.16%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.83 $2.83
-10.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.2 $76.2
$95.9 $95.9
-20.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 $3.31
$3.02 $3.02
9.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.42 $2.42
-42.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.15 $25.15
$39.76 $39.76
-36.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.86 $0.86
22.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5K $31.5K
$33K $33K
-4.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27K $27K
-2.97%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 $182
$283 $283
-35.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.6 $62.6
$54.2 $54.2
15.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 $66.5
$66.3 $66.3
0.39%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.7 $77.7
$39.66 $39.66
95.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.18 $13.18
$15.1 $15.1
-12.72%
Cinema Ticket
$14.98 $14.98
$16.27 $16.27
-7.93%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,022 $2,022
$1,331 $1,331
51.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39K $39K
$29.7K $29.7K
31.60%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 $63.3
$69.1 $69.1
-8.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3 $52.3
$39.36 $39.36
32.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 $95.9
$99.8 $99.8
-3.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$127 $127
16.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,302 $2,302
$1,793 $1,793
28.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$1,759 $1,759
-7.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,642 $4,642
$3,333 $3,333
39.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,612 $2,612
7.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,708 $3,708
$7,544 $7,544
-50.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,559 $2,559
$5,348 $5,348
-52.16%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Alpharetta, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,228 $5,228
$6,157 $6,157
-15.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.56
0.61%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 5, 2025

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: November 5, 2025

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