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

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 30.3% more expensive than Columbus, GA without rent, and 32.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 39.6% more expensive than Columbus, GA without rent, and 79% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$17.76 $17.76

17.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$50.6 $50.6

98.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$11.2 $11.2

6.88%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.46 $4.46

24.66%

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

$3.11 $3.11

$1.95 $1.95

59.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.48 $1.48

63.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.06 $5.06

35.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$6.83 $6.83

23.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1 $1

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.24 $3.24

28.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.36 $2.36

133.90%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$2.66 $2.66

74.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$10.51 $10.51

36.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$9.68 $9.68

53.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$9.3 $9.3

107.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.46 $4.46

15.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.39 $1.39

23.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$2.7 $2.7

63.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$3.51 $3.51

28.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.69 $1.69

49.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.81 $1.81

51.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.61 $1.61

50.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$1.82 $1.82

48.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.07 $7.07

114.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$14.27 $14.27

15.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.7 $1.7

38.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$1.27 $1.27

191.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.27 $1.27

99.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

$52.4 $52.4

41.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.99 $1.99

67.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.27 $1.27

11.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$21.1 $21.1

20.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.83 $0.83

30.12%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

14.75%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.9K $24.9K

5.13%

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

$188 $188

$152 $152

23.87%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$40.85 $40.85

55.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$63.3 $63.3

2.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$10.05 $10.05

663.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

$7.45 $7.45

74.90%

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$10.13 $10.13

47.38%

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

$2,063 $2,063

$960 $960

114.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

64.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$45.86 $45.86

40.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$30.03 $30.03

74.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$97.6 $97.6

-2.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$102 $102

41.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,232 $1,232

92.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,179 $1,179

34.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$1,386 $1,386

243.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$1,253 $1,253

124.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$7,749 $7,749

-53.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$7,575 $7,575

-67.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,681 $3,681

43.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.57

0.46%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Columbus, GA: October 29, 2025

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