Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Chattanooga, TN

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 21.6% more expensive than Chattanooga, TN without rent, and 21.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 29.7% more expensive than Chattanooga, TN without rent, and 26.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$16.52 $16.52
26.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$79.1 $79.1
26.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$10.85 $10.85
10.32%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.78 $4.78
16.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.57 $2.57
21.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.09 $2.09
15.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.08 $6.08
12.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.47 $7.47
13.12%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.02 $1.02
1.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.61 $3.61
14.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$4.68 $4.68
17.95%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.25 $4.25
9.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$13.42 $13.42
6.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$13.63 $13.63
9.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$12.83 $12.83
50.74%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$6.47 $6.47
-20.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.5 $1.5
14.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$4.4 $4.4
0.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$3.62 $3.62
24.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.32 $3.32
-23.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$3.38 $3.38
-18.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.3 $2.3
5.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$3.1 $3.1
-12.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$7.33 $7.33
107.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$13.9 $13.9
18.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.93 $1.93
21.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.52 $3.52
5.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$3.9 $3.9
-35.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$49.54 $49.54
49.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.78 $1.78
87.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.57 $1.57
-9.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$24.05 $24.05
5.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.74 $0.74
45.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$25K $25K
29.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$139 $139
35.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$56.7 $56.7
12.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$72.6 $72.6
-10.19%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.58 $40.58
89.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.47 $12.47
19.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,030 $1,030
100.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$24.5K $24.5K
59.84%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$40.76 $40.76
57.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.09 $32.09
63.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$98.2 $98.2
-3.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$113 $113
28.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,493 $1,493
59.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,278 $1,278
23.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$3,635 $3,635
31.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,164 $2,164
30.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,776 $2,776
29.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,200 $2,200
13.21%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Chattanooga, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$4,039 $4,039
30.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: October 29, 2025

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