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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 48.5% more expensive than Buford, GA without rent, and 29.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 17.5% more expensive than Buford, GA without rent, and 34.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$21.71 $21.71
-4.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$75.8 $75.8
32.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$5.82 $5.82
105.67%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.71 $5.71
-2.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.99 $1.99
56.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.96 $1.96
23.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.64 $5.64
21.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.16 $7.16
18.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.89 $0.89
16.85%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.54 $3.54
17.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.35 $4.35
26.90%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$3.59 $3.59
29.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$7.79 $7.79
83.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.52 $9.52
56.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$13.35 $13.35
44.87%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.36 $4.36
18.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.28 $1.28
33.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.93 $3.93
12.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.63 $4.63
-2.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.74 $2.74
-7.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.54 $2.54
7.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.37 $2.37
2.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.28 $2.28
18.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.33 $7.33
107.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$10.86 $10.86
51.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.76 $1.76
33.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$1.48 $1.48
150.00%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.8 $3.8
-33.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$4.57 $4.57
-26.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.74 $1.74
-18.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$41.85 $41.85
-39.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.77 $0.77
40.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$34.4K $34.4K
-5.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$24.3K $24.3K
7.80%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$173 $173
8.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$24.58 $24.58
159.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$84.5 $84.5
-22.87%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$45.65 $45.65
68.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$35.64 $35.64
-63.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.67 $12.67
17.84%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,093 $1,093
88.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
49.15%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$45.19 $45.19
42.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$50.2 $50.2
4.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$76.1 $76.1
25.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$98.9 $98.9
46.33%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,437 $1,437
65.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,150 $1,150
37.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,384 $2,384
99.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,097 $2,097
34.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,767 $2,767
29.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,102 $2,102
18.49%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Buford, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,353 $3,353
57.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.4
3.12%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Buford, GA: October 27, 2025

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