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 $2,478 in Augusta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,576 in Chicago, IL versus $3,480 in Augusta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,143 in Chicago, IL versus $4,482 in Augusta, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 21% more expensive than in Augusta, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Augusta, GA 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.27 $20.27

$16.17 $16.17

25.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$76.3 $76.3

32.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$9.80 $9.80

22.86%

Cappuccino

$5.76 $5.76

$4.88 $4.88

18.03%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.67 $2.67

11.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.94 $1.94

22.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 $7.20

$5.38 $5.38

33.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 $8.05

$6.30 $6.30

27.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.83 $0.83

31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.19 $2.19

88.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.00 $5.00

5.80%

Eggs

$4.56 $4.56

$3.84 $3.84

18.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.45 $14.45

$8.50 $8.50

70.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$10.42 $10.42

41.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.56 $19.56

$12.99 $12.99

50.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.08 $4.08

32.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.56 $1.56

9.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.82 $3.82

9.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$3.37 $3.37

36.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.83 $2.83

-12.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.75 $2.75

-1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.99 $1.99

24.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.24 $2.24

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 $14.78

$7.71 $7.71

91.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.30 $15.30

$9.07 $9.07

68.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.70 $1.70

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$5.13 $5.13

-27.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.96 $1.96

26.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.0 $74.0

$40.60 $40.60

82.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.06 $2.06

61.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.22 $1.22

12.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.65 $24.65

$23.59 $23.59

4.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.83 $0.83

26.51%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$27.3K $27.3K

18.51%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.53%

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

$186 $186

$197 $197

-5.33%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$56.4 $56.4

11.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$71.7 $71.7

-5.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$27.14 $27.14

177.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.38 $13.38

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$14.81 $14.81

1.96%

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

$2,023 $2,023

$913 $913

121.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

51.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$33.85 $33.85

89.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$37.61 $37.61

36.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$71.1 $71.1

35.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$83.0 $83.0

77.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$1,246 $1,246

86.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 $1,570

$1,317 $1,317

19.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,677 $4,677

$1,606 $1,606

191.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,810 $2,810

$1,890 $1,890

48.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,082 $4,082

$1,704 $1,704

139.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,645 $2,645

$1,676 $1,676

57.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,883 $4,883

$3,008 $3,008

62.36%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Augusta, GA: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,329 in Chicago, IL and $1,246 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: $101 in Chicago, IL vs $76.0 in Augusta, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $330 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 62% higher in Chicago, IL, 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: $2,329 in Chicago, IL versus $1,246 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 $76.0 versus $101 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,478 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 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.