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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,111 in Chicago, IL versus $2,300 in Buford, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,680 in Chicago, IL versus $3,532 in Buford, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,249 in Chicago, IL versus $4,764 in Buford, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 35% more expensive than Buford, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 131% above, Buford, GA 71% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$21.69 $21.69

-5.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$76.1 $76.1

29.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$5.94 $5.94

103.20%

Cappuccino

$5.73 $5.73

$5.70 $5.70

0.53%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$1.95 $1.95

52.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.04 $2.04

21.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.99 $6.99

$5.48 $5.48

27.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.02 $7.02

16.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.84 $0.84

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$3.50 $3.50

16.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$4.27 $4.27

28.81%

Eggs

$4.64 $4.64

$3.44 $3.44

34.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$7.91 $7.91

82.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$9.19 $9.19

65.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$13.30 $13.30

44.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.37 $4.37

17.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.22 $1.22

44.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.72 $3.72

16.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$4.60 $4.60

-5.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.71 $2.71

-9.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.58 $2.58

8.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.35 $2.35

7.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.21 $2.21

20.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.90 $14.90

$7.62 $7.62

95.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$10.80 $10.80

38.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.81 $1.81

35.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.51 $1.51

134.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.67 $3.67

-33.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.5 $74.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.47 $4.47

-25.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.73 $1.73

-20.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.11 $25.11

$42.16 $42.16

-40.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.84 $0.84

29.76%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.4K $34.4K

-7.49%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$24.5K $24.5K

9.64%

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

$187 $187

$176 $176

6.06%

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

$63.5 $63.5

$24.66 $24.66

157.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$85.4 $85.4

-23.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.7 $75.7

$45.12 $45.12

67.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.05 $13.05

$35.44 $35.44

-63.18%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$12.97 $12.97

14.11%

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

$2,025 $2,025

$1,097 $1,097

84.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.0K $39.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

49.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.2 $64.2

$44.71 $44.71

43.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.7 $51.7

$49.22 $49.22

5.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$76.4 $76.4

25.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$95.3 $95.3

52.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,326 $2,326

$1,441 $1,441

61.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 $1,611

$1,131 $1,131

42.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,703 $4,703

$2,396 $2,396

96.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,721 $2,721

$2,138 $2,138

27.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,829 $3,829

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,533 $2,533

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,100 $5,100

$3,439 $3,439

48.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.4

3.12%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 7, 2026

Last update for Buford, GA: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,326 in Chicago, IL and $1,441 in Buford, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 48% 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 $76.0 in Buford, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $334 per month, with Buford, 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 Buford, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Buford, GA differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($3,111 vs $2,300 including rent). Buford, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 48% 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 $1,441 in Buford, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Chicago, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,111 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,300 in Buford, GA – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Buford, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Buford, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.