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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,068 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,215 in Athens, GA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,648 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,460 in Athens, GA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,229 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,705 in Athens, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 39% more than Athens, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chicago, IL and Athens, GA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 130%, Athens, GA by 66%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$14.72 $14.72

37.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$78.2 $78.2

27.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$11.21 $11.21

9.10%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.42 $5.42

3.32%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.39 $2.39

30.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.64 $1.64

48.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.98 $6.98

-0.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$8.07 $8.07

1.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.84 $0.84

28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.03 $3.03

31.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.32 $4.32

29.17%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.01 $3.01

48.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$7.72 $7.72

87.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.85 $11.85

27.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$13.79 $13.79

40.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$4.37 $4.37

22.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.37 $1.37

28.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.35 $4.35

-0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.83 $4.83

-8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.74 $2.74

-7.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.77 $2.77

-2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.37 $2.37

5.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.08 $2.08

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$7.68 $7.68

92.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$18.34 $18.34

-17.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.74 $1.74

41.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$4.59 $4.59

-21.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.90 $0.90

182.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$32.09 $32.09

137.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$4.55 $4.55

-27.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.84 $1.84

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$42.26 $42.26

-39.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.76 $0.76

43.42%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$30.0K $30.0K

5.61%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.63%

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

$186 $186

$172 $172

8.40%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$35.69 $35.69

76.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$63.9 $63.9

3.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$24.62 $24.62

215.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$12.86 $12.86

14.62%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$860 $860

137.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$9,367 $9,367

325.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$57.8 $57.8

10.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$32.01 $32.01

59.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$79.7 $79.7

19.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$54.1 $54.1

166.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,584 $1,584

45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,085 $1,085

45.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,757 $2,757

70.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,147 $2,147

27.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

$2,384 $2,384

70.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

$2,265 $2,265

19.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$3,460 $3,460

45.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.47

2.01%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Athens, GA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $1,584 in Athens, GA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 45% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL versus $78.0 in Athens, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $366 – making Athens, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Athens, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chicago, IL is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,602 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,322 in Athens, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Athens, GA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Chicago, IL and $78.0 in Athens, GA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Athens, GA, where all-in costs run around $2,215, than in Chicago, IL at $3,068. In Athens, GA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Athens, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Athens, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.