Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Cumming, GA: $2,594 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in Cumming, GA
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Cumming, GA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Cumming, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,594

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Cumming, GA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Cumming, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,037 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,594 in Cumming, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,037
Cumming, GA $2,594

A couple spends around $4,518 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,544 in Cumming, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,518
Cumming, GA $3,544

A family of three spends $5,999 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,493 in Cumming, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $5,999
Cumming, GA $4,493

Chicago, IL costs about 17% more than Cumming, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Chicago, IL and Cumming, GA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 123%, Cumming, GA by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.71 $20.71

$17.04 $17.04

21.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.2 $89.2

$70.3 $70.3

26.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 $13.19

$9.82 $9.82

34.32%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$4.70 $4.70

20.43%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.63 $2.63

0.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.10 $2.10

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.39 $5.39

27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$6.15 $6.15

43.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.05 $1.05

19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$3.09 $3.09

20.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 $5.39

$4.22 $4.22

27.73%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$4.58 $4.58

3.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.84 $13.84

$12.84 $12.84

7.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.40 $14.40

$8.97 $8.97

60.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.38 $18.38

$18.53 $18.53

-0.81%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.77 $4.77

9.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.40 $1.40

41.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$4.00 $4.00

1.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.00 $4.00

24.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.81 $2.81

-4.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.08 $3.08

-13.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.10 $2.10

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.14 $2.14

46.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$8.64 $8.64

59.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$14.83 $14.83

0.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.20 $2.20

15.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 $3.51

$5.08 $5.08

-30.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$4.30 $4.30

-43.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.5 $73.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 $3.18

$1.98 $1.98

60.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.33 $2.33

-40.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.03 $25.03

$31.96 $31.96

-21.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.97 $0.97

23.71%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$27.7K $27.7K

26.28%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.9K $26.9K

-0.69%

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

$194 $194

$172 $172

13.15%

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

$69.5 $69.5

$58.1 $58.1

19.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$94.1 $94.1

-34.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.90 $47.90

$40.23 $40.23

19.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.34 $27.34

Cinema Ticket

$17.81 $17.81

$16.37 $16.37

8.80%

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

$1,794 $1,794

$1,211 $1,211

48.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$9,470 $9,470

237.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 $67.0

$39.62 $39.62

69.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$32.42 $32.42

60.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$60.1 $60.1

69.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$144 $144

$71.7 $71.7

100.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$1,609 $1,609

56.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 $1,578

$1,411 $1,411

11.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,738 $4,738

$2,878 $2,878

64.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,693 $2,693

$1,897 $1,897

41.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 $4,190

$10.2K $10.2K

-59.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,768 $2,768

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,931 $4,931

$7,284 $7,284

-32.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.81

6.72

1.34%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cumming, GA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52%

Cumming, GA

$1.4K 54.4% 10.6% $167

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7%

Cumming, GA

$383 14.8% 14.3% $64

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4%

Cumming, GA

$280 10.8% 18.7% $65

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7%

Cumming, GA

$324 12.5% 0.5% $1.5

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4%

Cumming, GA

$92 3.5% 44.1% $72

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1%

Cumming, GA

$31 * 1.2% 67% $63

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8%

Cumming, GA

$73 2.8% 12.6% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,526 in Chicago, IL versus $1,609 in Cumming, GA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Cumming, GA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $70 in Cumming, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $383 – making Cumming, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Cumming, GA

🕒 Local time

22:09 10:09 PM

23:09 11:09 PM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

5,718

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Cumming, GA 910 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Cumming, GA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cumming, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,037 in Chicago, IL, $2,594 in Cumming, GA – Cumming, GA comes out roughly 15% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,555 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,891 in Cumming, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cumming, GA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,609 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $70 in Cumming, GA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chicago, IL, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,037 in Chicago, IL and $2,594 in Cumming, GA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Cumming, GA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.