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: $3,077 in Chicago, IL versus $2,547 in Cartersville, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,628 in Chicago, IL versus $3,818 in Cartersville, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,179 in Chicago, IL versus $5,090 in Cartersville, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 21% more expensive than Cartersville, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 130% above, Cartersville, GA 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.91 $20.91

$16.24 $16.24

28.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$63.6 $63.6

54.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$9.86 $9.86

20.28%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$5.03 $5.03

11.33%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$2.40 $2.40

27.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.95 $1.95

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$4.80 $4.80

48.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$6.96 $6.96

16.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.88 $0.88

19.32%

White Bread (500g)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.37 $3.37

21.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$2.63 $2.63

113.31%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$2.98 $2.98

51.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$12.48 $12.48

14.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.89 $14.89

$11.84 $11.84

25.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.19 $19.19

$15.61 $15.61

22.93%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$5.64 $5.64

-8.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.46 $1.46

21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$3.61 $3.61

21.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$4.31 $4.31

5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.67 $3.67

-30.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.29 $2.29

20.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.97 $1.97

22.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$1.53 $1.53

71.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.92 $14.92

$7.98 $7.98

86.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.80 $14.80

$13.91 $13.91

6.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.65 $1.65

49.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$3.24 $3.24

15.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.03 $2.03

22.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.4 $75.4

$39.54 $39.54

90.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$5.05 $5.05

-37.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.57 $1.57

-9.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.94 $24.94

$18.24 $18.24

36.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.74 $0.74

43.24%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$34.9K $34.9K

-8.51%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$22.8K $22.8K

14.28%

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

$185 $185

$179 $179

3.09%

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

$61.7 $61.7

$51.1 $51.1

20.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$69.6 $69.6

-3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.2 $75.2

$43.03 $43.03

74.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.08 $13.08

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$9.41 $9.41

56.32%

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

$2,020 $2,020

$1,013 $1,013

99.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$8,215 $8,215

379.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$32.44 $32.44

99.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$34.42 $34.42

52.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 $97.8

$66.2 $66.2

47.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$80.0 $80.0

84.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 $2,313

$2,147 $2,147

7.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 $1,590

$1,364 $1,364

16.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,608 $4,608

$2,588 $2,588

78.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,779 $2,779

$2,480 $2,480

12.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,922 $3,922

$2,437 $2,437

60.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,613 $2,613

$2,383 $2,383

9.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,217 $5,217

$1,779 $1,779

193.29%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cartersville, GA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,313 in Chicago, IL and $2,147 in Cartersville, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chicago, IL pays 193% 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 $64.0 in Cartersville, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $366 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 21% in total monthly costs ($3,077 vs $2,547 including rent). Cartersville, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Chicago, IL pays 193% 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: $2,313 in Chicago, IL versus $2,147 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 $2,020 in Chicago, IL versus $1,013 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 21% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.