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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 37.7% more expensive than Athens, TN without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 48.1% more expensive than Athens, TN without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.83 $21.83
-4.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$34.81 $34.81
188.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$9.16 $9.16
30.68%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$2.96 $2.96
87.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.06 $2.06
50.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.08 $2.08
16.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.66 $6.66
3.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.79 $7.79
8.47%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.94 $0.94
10.64%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$2.32 $2.32
78.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.64 $4.64
18.97%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.65 $4.65
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.47 $13.47
6.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$6.54 $6.54
127.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$10.86 $10.86
78.08%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.45 $4.45
16.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.35 $1.35
26.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.64 $4.64
-4.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.08 $4.08
10.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.64 $3.64
-30.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.49 $3.49
-21.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.36 $2.36
2.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$1.82 $1.82
48.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.05 $7.05
115.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$15.04 $15.04
9.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.75 $1.75
34.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.59 $1.59
132.70%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.98 $1.98
27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.08 $3.08
8.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.5 $1.5
-5.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$39.84 $39.84
-36.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$32.8K $32.8K
-1.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.4K $26.4K
-0.78%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$240 $240
-21.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$53.4 $53.4
19.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$58.4 $58.4
11.64%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$43.84 $43.84
75.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$7.86 $7.86
89.95%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,345 $1,345
53.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$29.5K $29.5K
32.69%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$68.3 $68.3
-5.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$39.21 $39.21
33.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$102 $102
-6.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$126 $126
14.75%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,633 $1,633
45.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,376 $1,376
15.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,615 $2,615
82.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,179 $2,179
29.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,722 $2,722
31.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,459 $2,459
1.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Athens, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$8,328 $8,328
-36.66%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Athens, TN: October 27, 2025

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