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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,009 in Chicago, IL versus $2,438 in Augusta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,593 in Chicago, IL versus $3,445 in Augusta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,177 in Chicago, IL versus $4,452 in Augusta, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 23% more expensive than Augusta, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 125% above, Augusta, GA 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.35 $20.35

$16.70 $16.70

21.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$78.6 $78.6

29.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.98 $11.98

$9.86 $9.86

21.50%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$4.91 $4.91

16.09%

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

$3.00 $3.00

$2.69 $2.69

11.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.86 $1.86

32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.43 $5.43

26.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$6.11 $6.11

32.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.79 $0.79

30.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.20 $2.20

79.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$5.10 $5.10

6.27%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.96 $3.96

13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$8.55 $8.55

69.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$10.32 $10.32

44.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.98 $18.98

$13.10 $13.10

44.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.05 $4.05

33.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.51 $1.51

17.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$3.93 $3.93

10.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$3.21 $3.21

41.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.86 $2.86

-11.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.72 $2.72

3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.98 $1.98

26.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.23 $2.23

19.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.67 $7.67

94.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.22 $15.22

$8.88 $8.88

71.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.75 $1.75

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$5.10 $5.10

-30.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.95 $1.95

31.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

$40.22 $40.22

84.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 $3.19

$1.96 $1.96

62.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.26 $1.26

11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.49 $25.49

$23.60 $23.60

8.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.80 $0.80

30.00%

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

$32.2K $32.2K

$26.9K $26.9K

19.74%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.9K $25.9K

3.53%

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

$184 $184

$197 $197

-6.78%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$55.8 $55.8

13.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.4 $66.4

$70.5 $70.5

-5.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.9 $75.9

$27.13 $27.13

179.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$15.25 $15.25

$14.77 $14.77

3.25%

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

$2,090 $2,090

$921 $921

127.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

51.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$34.91 $34.91

83.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 $51.0

$38.17 $38.17

33.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 $97.2

$71.6 $71.6

35.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$149 $149

$82.0 $82.0

81.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,341 $2,341

$1,247 $1,247

87.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 $1,572

$1,316 $1,316

19.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,741 $4,741

$1,607 $1,607

194.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,819 $2,819

$1,881 $1,881

49.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,900 $3,900

$1,731 $1,731

125.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,638 $2,638

$1,675 $1,675

57.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,769 $4,769

$3,118 $3,118

52.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.54

0.92%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Last update for Augusta, GA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,341 in Chicago, IL and $1,247 in Augusta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 53% 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: $102 in Chicago, IL vs $79.0 in Augusta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $329 per month, with Augusta, 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 Augusta, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta, GA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 53% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,341 in Chicago, IL versus $1,247 in Augusta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Augusta, GA – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $102 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,438 in Augusta, GA versus $3,009 in Chicago, IL, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Augusta, GA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Augusta, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Expats usually find Augusta, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.