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: $3,051 in Chicago, IL versus $2,354 in Buford, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,638 in Chicago, IL versus $3,528 in Buford, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,224 in Chicago, IL versus $4,702 in Buford, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 30% more expensive than Buford, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 128% above, Buford, GA 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.67 $20.67

$21.84 $21.84

-5.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$75.4 $75.4

33.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$5.91 $5.91

100.68%

Cappuccino

$5.54 $5.54

$5.69 $5.69

-2.64%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.96 $1.96

56.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.95 $1.95

27.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.60 $5.60

23.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.13 $8.13

$6.85 $6.85

18.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.84 $0.84

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.35 $3.35

16.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.27 $4.27

26.93%

Eggs

$4.48 $4.48

$3.49 $3.49

28.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.52 $14.52

$7.69 $7.69

88.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.21 $15.21

$9.47 $9.47

60.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.25 $19.25

$13.17 $13.17

46.17%

Apples (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.37 $4.37

23.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.22 $1.22

38.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.79 $3.79

13.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.67 $4.67

-3.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.78 $2.78

-7.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.67 $2.67

1.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.38 $2.38

1.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.20 $2.20

19.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.02 $15.02

$7.45 $7.45

101.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$11.05 $11.05

33.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$1.83 $1.83

35.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.54 $1.54

139.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.55 $2.55

$3.78 $3.78

-32.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.5 $75.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.48 $4.48

-26.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.66 $1.66

-13.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.72 $24.72

$42.65 $42.65

-42.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.79 $0.79

37.97%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$33.7K $33.7K

-5.82%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.2K $24.2K

9.21%

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

$183 $183

$175 $175

4.73%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$25.30 $25.30

144.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$82.1 $82.1

-20.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 $76.1

$45.52 $45.52

67.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.04 $13.04

$34.53 $34.53

-62.24%

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 $14.75

$12.87 $12.87

14.61%

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

$2,056 $2,056

$1,119 $1,119

83.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.5K $38.5K

$25.8K $25.8K

49.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$45.46 $45.46

40.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 $51.6

$49.93 $49.93

3.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 $97.3

$74.1 $74.1

31.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$147 $147

$95.6 $95.6

53.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,349 $2,349

$1,445 $1,445

62.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$1,153 $1,153

37.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,708 $4,708

$2,436 $2,436

93.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 $2,716

$2,129 $2,129

27.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,976 $3,976

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,723 $4,723

$3,423 $3,423

37.98%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Buford, GA: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,349 in Chicago, IL and $1,445 in Buford, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 38% 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: $100 in Chicago, IL vs $75 in Buford, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $335 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 30% in total monthly costs ($3,051 vs $2,354 including rent). Buford, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 38% 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: $2,349 in Chicago, IL versus $1,445 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 $3,051 per month in Chicago, IL versus $2,354 in Buford, GA – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,354 in Buford, GA versus $3,051 in Chicago, IL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buford, GA but tight or insufficient in Chicago, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Buford, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 30% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.