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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,068 in Chicago, IL versus $2,475 in Cartersville, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,648 in Chicago, IL versus $3,713 in Cartersville, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,229 in Chicago, IL versus $4,952 in Cartersville, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 24% more expensive than in Cartersville, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Cartersville, GA 85% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.17 $20.17

$16.30 $16.30

23.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.5 $99.5

$62.0 $62.0

60.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.23 $12.23

$9.95 $9.95

22.91%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.09 $5.09

10.02%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.33 $2.33

33.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.98 $1.98

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.93 $6.93

$4.79 $4.79

44.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.20 $8.20

$7.18 $7.18

14.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.89 $0.89

21.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.29 $3.29

20.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$2.62 $2.62

112.98%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.09 $3.09

44.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$12.48 $12.48

16.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$11.74 $11.74

28.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$15.41 $15.41

25.50%

Apples (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.85 $5.85

-8.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.48 $1.48

18.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$3.54 $3.54

22.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.52 $4.52

-2.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.52 $3.52

-27.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.21 $2.21

22.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.96 $1.96

27.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.56 $1.56

66.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.13 $8.13

82.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.18 $15.18

$14.13 $14.13

7.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.69 $1.69

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.27 $3.27

10.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.05 $2.05

23.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.3 $76.3

$39.92 $39.92

91.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 $3.30

$5.04 $5.04

-34.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.52 $1.52

-9.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.36 $25.36

$17.67 $17.67

43.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.79 $0.79

37.97%

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

$31.6K $31.6K

$35.2K $35.2K

-10.15%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$22.9K $22.9K

15.88%

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

$186 $186

$181 $181

3.02%

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

$62.9 $62.9

$50.8 $50.8

23.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 $66.2

$67.3 $67.3

-1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.6 $77.6

$42.36 $42.36

83.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 $13.16

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$9.27 $9.27

59.01%

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

$2,039 $2,039

$997 $997

104.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.9K $39.9K

$8,253 $8,253

382.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$32.53 $32.53

96.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$34.53 $34.53

48.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$68.2 $68.2

39.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$80.4 $80.4

79.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,305 $2,305

$2,120 $2,120

8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 $1,575

$1,362 $1,362

15.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,688 $4,688

$2,675 $2,675

75.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,737 $2,737

$2,501 $2,501

9.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,063 $4,063

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,696 $2,696

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,019 $5,019

$1,764 $1,764

184.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.5

1.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: July 11, 2026

Last update for Cartersville, GA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,305 in Chicago, IL and $2,120 in Cartersville, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 184% 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: $99.0 in Chicago, IL vs $62.0 in Cartersville, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $367 per month, with Cartersville, 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 Cartersville, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago, IL and Cartersville, GA differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($3,068 vs $2,475 including rent). Cartersville, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 184% 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: $2,305 in Chicago, IL versus $2,120 in Cartersville, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cartersville, GA runs roughly 91% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,039 in Chicago, IL versus $997 in Cartersville, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Cartersville, 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 Cartersville, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.