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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $3,182 in Alpharetta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $4,521 in Alpharetta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $5,860 in Alpharetta, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL costs roughly 4% less than in Alpharetta, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Alpharetta, GA 138% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$21.66 $21.66

-6.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$60.4 $60.4

64.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.04 $9.04

35.29%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.16 $5.16

8.53%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.49 $2.49

25.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.01 $2.01

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.46 $6.46

7.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.83 $7.83

4.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.99 $0.99

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.86 $3.86

2.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.54 $4.54

22.91%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$13.34 $13.34

8.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$9.86 $9.86

52.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$20.24 $20.24

-4.45%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.08 $5.08

5.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.68 $1.68

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.63 $4.63

-6.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.07 $4.07

8.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.69 $3.69

-31.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.53 $3.53

-23.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.39 $2.39

4.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.51 $2.51

3.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.63 $12.63

17.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$15.25 $15.25

-0.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.72 $1.72

43.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.55 $1.55

132.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.83 $2.83

-10.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$96.5 $96.5

-20.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.98 $2.98

10.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.38 $2.38

-42.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$39.46 $39.46

-35.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.88 $0.88

23.86%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$32.7K $32.7K

-3.31%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.23%

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

$186 $186

$279 $279

-33.22%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$53.5 $53.5

17.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$65.3 $65.3

1.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$39.61 $39.61

95.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

$14.79 $14.79

-11.02%

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$16.13 $16.13

-8.62%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$1,317 $1,317

54.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

34.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$69.0 $69.0

-7.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$39.96 $39.96

28.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$103 $103

-7.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$126 $126

14.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,784 $1,784

29.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,758 $1,758

-10.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$3,343 $3,343

40.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,669 $2,669

2.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$7,654 $7,654

-46.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$5,295 $5,295

-49.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$6,290 $6,290

-20.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.56

0.61%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $1,784 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $60.0 in Alpharetta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $409 per month, with Alpharetta, 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 Alpharetta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Alpharetta, 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,784 in Alpharetta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Chicago, IL runs roughly 27% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,039 in Chicago, IL versus $1,317 in Alpharetta, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Chicago, IL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Chicago, IL is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alpharetta, GA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Chicago, IL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Alpharetta, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.