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: $3,117 in Chicago, IL versus $2,458 in Augusta, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,695 in Chicago, IL versus $3,521 in Augusta, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,273 in Chicago, IL versus $4,583 in Augusta, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 27% more expensive than in Augusta, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Augusta, GA 80% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$17.84 $17.84

11.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$98.8 $98.8

-10.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$9.33 $9.33

38.69%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.40 $5.40

2.59%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.68 $2.68

2.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.12 $2.12

11.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.12 $7.12

$5.21 $5.21

36.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 $8.73

$7.86 $7.86

11.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.78 $0.78

71.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$2.30 $2.30

81.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.73 $5.73

$3.79 $3.79

51.19%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$3.87 $3.87

26.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$11.18 $11.18

32.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$9.05 $9.05

64.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.61 $19.61

$14.33 $14.33

36.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$4.27 $4.27

30.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.52 $1.52

26.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$3.59 $3.59

16.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.60 $2.60

86.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.69 $1.69

68.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.61 $2.61

7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.94 $1.94

13.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 $3.06

$2.22 $2.22

37.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.16 $16.16

$8.66 $8.66

86.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.82 $14.82

$10.20 $10.20

45.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.76 $1.76

43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$5.02 $5.02

-33.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.54 $1.54

65.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.6 $75.6

$40.59 $40.59

86.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.02 $2.02

63.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.27 $1.27

7.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.12 $25.12

$24.23 $24.23

3.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$0.89 $0.89

31.46%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$33.3K $33.3K

8.05%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.64%

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

$191 $191

$150 $150

27.16%

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

$67.9 $67.9

$60.3 $60.3

12.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.7 $61.7

$84.1 $84.1

-26.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 $63.5

$27.77 $27.77

128.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.14 $27.14

Cinema Ticket

$18.02 $18.02

$15.13 $15.13

19.10%

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

$1,522 $1,522

$930 $930

63.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$23.0K $23.0K

36.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 $63.7

$48.85 $48.85

30.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 $55.3

$38.75 $38.75

42.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$74.3 $74.3

35.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$75.6 $75.6

102.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,406 $2,406

$1,330 $1,330

80.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 $1,653

$1,277 $1,277

29.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,577 $4,577

$1,570 $1,570

191.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,771 $2,771

$1,832 $1,832

51.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,031 $4,031

$1,705 $1,705

136.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,745 $2,745

$1,708 $1,708

60.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,804 $4,804

$3,013 $3,013

59.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.18

3.24%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 13, 2026

Last update for Augusta, GA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,406 in Chicago, IL and $1,330 in Augusta, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 59% 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: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $99.0 in Augusta, GA. Groceries flip the comparison at $464 vs $325, with Augusta, GA cheaper for home cooking.

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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 59% 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: $2,406 in Chicago, IL versus $1,330 in Augusta, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 43% 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 $99.0 versus $88.0 in Chicago, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,458 in Augusta, GA versus $3,117 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 27% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.