Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens, TN: $2,061 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
100

Cost of Living Index in Athens, TN
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Athens, TN Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Athens, TN

🇺🇸 United States

$2,061

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Athens, TN

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Athens, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,061 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Athens, TN $2,061

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,191 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Athens, TN $3,191

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,320 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Athens, TN $4,320

Chicago, IL costs about 52% more than Athens, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Athens, TN sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Athens, TN by 52%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$30.18 $30.18

-31.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$109 $109

-17.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$11.76 $11.76

10.03%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.64 $5.64

-0.71%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.70 $2.70

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.09 $2.09

8.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$6.82 $6.82

2.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.86 $7.86

12.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.88 $0.88

44.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.57 $2.57

47.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$3.43 $3.43

54.52%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$4.84 $4.84

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$13.56 $13.56

2.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$6.40 $6.40

128.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$19.74 $19.74

-4.91%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.95 $5.95

-12.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.46 $1.46

35.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$6.08 $6.08

-35.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.22 $5.22

-4.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.73 $3.73

-26.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.66 $2.66

3.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.25 $2.25

-1.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.67 $1.67

78.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$6.98 $6.98

100.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.93 $14.93

2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.93 $1.93

33.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$4.90 $4.90

-28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.30 $2.30

7.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.52 $3.52

-5.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.46 $1.46

-2.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$24.41 $24.41

-0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.93 $0.93

35.48%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$36.8K $36.8K

-4.91%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.8K $26.8K

-2.53%

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

$193 $193

$219 $219

-12.18%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$70.0 $70.0

-2.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$56.0 $56.0

9.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

$45.44 $45.44

19.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$7.88 $7.88

125.13%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,820 $1,820

-9.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$22.3K $22.3K

39.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$53.5 $53.5

23.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$45.57 $45.57

12.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$96.8 $96.8

3.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$110 $110

28.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$855 $855

186.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$701 $701

139.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$1,458 $1,458

223.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$1,147 $1,147

143.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

$2,706 $2,706

51.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$2,409 $2,409

9.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$8,472 $8,472

-42.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.54

4.13%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Last update for Athens, TN: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Athens, TN

$701 34% 58.2% $977

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Athens, TN

$383 18.6% 14.7% $66

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Athens, TN

$413 20.1% 20.4% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Athens, TN

$345 16.8% 7.2% $23

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Athens, TN

$137 6.7% 14.8% $24

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Athens, TN

$20 * 1% 79% $75

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Athens, TN

$61 3% 31.7% $28

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,446 in Chicago, IL versus $855 in Athens, TN. 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 74% higher in Athens, TN, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $109 in Athens, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Chicago, IL vs $383 in Athens, TN – so Athens, TN wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Athens, TN

🕒 Local time

03:10 3:10 AM

04:10 4:10 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

115,452

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Athens, TN 760 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Athens, TN

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL costs about 52% more than Athens, TN, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,092 in Athens, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $109 in Athens, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Athens, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,061, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Athens, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Athens, TN costs $2,061 versus $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Athens, TN. 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.