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: $3,106 in Chicago, IL versus $2,639 in Cartersville, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,599 in Chicago, IL versus $3,796 in Cartersville, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,092 in Chicago, IL versus $4,953 in Cartersville, GA.

Living in Chicago, IL is roughly 18% more expensive than in Cartersville, GA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Chicago, IL 126% above, Cartersville, GA 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.86 $19.86

$16.88 $16.88

17.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 $88.3

$72.5 $72.5

21.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 $13.23

$10.97 $10.97

20.60%

Cappuccino

$5.86 $5.86

$5.04 $5.04

16.27%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$2.33 $2.33

12.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$1.92 $1.92

20.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.03 $7.03

$4.65 $4.65

51.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.25 $9.25

$6.96 $6.96

32.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.83 $0.83

61.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$2.95 $2.95

42.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.61 $2.61

110.73%

Eggs

$4.71 $4.71

$2.91 $2.91

61.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.72 $14.72

$9.30 $9.30

58.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.53 $14.53

$9.47 $9.47

53.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.69 $19.69

$14.91 $14.91

32.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.77 $3.77

49.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.40 $1.40

40.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.78 $3.78

6.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.05 $3.05

66.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.54 $2.54

15.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.26 $2.26

29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.94 $1.94

17.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.84 $1.84

69.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.19 $16.19

$8.27 $8.27

95.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$14.09 $14.09

7.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.69 $1.69

57.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.26 $3.26

6.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$5.02 $5.02

-49.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$76.0 $76.0

$39.27 $39.27

93.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 $3.16

$4.26 $4.26

-25.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.89 $1.89

-27.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.66 $22.66

$32.25 $32.25

-29.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.93 $0.93

29.03%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$35.1K $35.1K

5.51%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$23.1K $23.1K

12.70%

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

$190 $190

$168 $168

12.81%

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

$68.5 $68.5

$65.7 $65.7

4.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.1 $61.1

$71.9 $71.9

-15.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.8 $63.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.80 $27.80

Cinema Ticket

$18.28 $18.28

$12.04 $12.04

51.83%

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

$1,525 $1,525

$1,550 $1,550

-1.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$8,292 $8,292

285.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$32.95 $32.95

94.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 $54.4

$34.87 $34.87

56.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$68.8 $68.8

46.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$79.9 $79.9

92.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,421 $2,421

$2,123 $2,123

14.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,690 $1,690

$1,530 $1,530

10.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,584 $4,584

$3,034 $3,034

51.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,782 $2,782

$2,457 $2,457

13.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,777 $4,777

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

6.23

2.41%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Last update for Cartersville, GA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,421 in Chicago, IL and $2,123 in Cartersville, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $88.0 in Chicago, IL vs $72.0 in Cartersville, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $323 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 18% in total monthly costs ($3,106 vs $2,639 including rent). Cartersville, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,659 in Chicago, IL and $3,959 in Cartersville, GA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,421 in Chicago, IL versus $2,123 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 93% less than in Chicago, IL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,525 in Chicago, IL versus $1,550 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 18% less than in Chicago, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.