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: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,472 in Augusta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,418 in Augusta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $4,363 in Augusta, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 26% more expensive than Augusta, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Augusta, GA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$16.57 $16.57

23.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$77.1 $77.1

27.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$10.14 $10.14

19.03%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$4.89 $4.89

17.18%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.67 $2.67

11.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.94 $1.94

27.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.58 $5.58

25.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.39 $6.39

28.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.83 $0.83

26.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$2.22 $2.22

83.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$5.06 $5.06

8.70%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$3.83 $3.83

21.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$8.48 $8.48

69.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$10.39 $10.39

46.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$12.72 $12.72

51.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.23 $4.23

21.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.49 $1.49

18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.80 $3.80

14.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.37 $3.37

29.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.82 $2.82

-13.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.75 $2.75

1.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.88 $1.88

34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.25 $2.25

18.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$7.59 $7.59

96.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$8.89 $8.89

68.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.76 $1.76

39.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.32 $5.32

-33.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

$39.28 $39.28

89.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.99 $1.99

66.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.25 $1.25

10.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$23.65 $23.65

6.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.78 $0.78

39.74%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$27.4K $27.4K

16.18%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$26.0K $26.0K

3.23%

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

$187 $187

$195 $195

-3.97%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$55.6 $55.6

14.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$70.2 $70.2

-6.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$27.53 $27.53

174.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$14.72 $14.72

0.54%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$933 $933

117.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

52.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$34.17 $34.17

87.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$37.65 $37.65

37.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$72.6 $72.6

31.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$82.5 $82.5

75.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,255 $1,255

85.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,307 $1,307

23.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$1,643 $1,643

186.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$1,854 $1,854

46.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

$1,690 $1,690

126.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

$1,675 $1,675

51.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$3,144 $3,144

62.18%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Augusta, GA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,255 in Augusta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 62% 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: $98.0 in Chicago, IL vs $77.0 in Augusta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 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 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Chicago, IL pays 62% 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: $2,326 in Chicago, IL versus $1,255 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 $77.0 versus $98.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,472 in Augusta, GA versus $3,111 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 26% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.