Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Duluth, GA: $2,637 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
Learn more

Chicago, IL Living Index
128

Cost of Living Index in Duluth, GA
Learn more

Duluth, GA Living Index

Jump to prices

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Duluth, GA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,637

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Duluth, 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 Duluth, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,139 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,637 in Duluth, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,139
Duluth, GA $2,637

A couple spends around $4,627 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,709 in Duluth, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,627
Duluth, GA $3,709

A family of three spends $6,115 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,781 in Duluth, GA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,115
Duluth, GA $4,781

Chicago, IL costs about 19% more than Duluth, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Chicago, IL and Duluth, GA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 132%, Duluth, GA by 95%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.65 $20.65

$18.43 $18.43

12.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.2 $90.2

$88.1 $88.1

2.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.94 $12.94

$10.18 $10.18

27.11%

Cappuccino

$5.60 $5.60

$4.72 $4.72

18.64%

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

$2.64 $2.64

$2.97 $2.97

-11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.08 $2.08

9.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.98 $6.98

$5.62 $5.62

24.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.83 $8.83

$7.34 $7.34

20.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.91 $0.91

39.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.97 $3.97

-4.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.30 $5.30

$4.55 $4.55

16.48%

Eggs

$4.76 $4.76

$3.98 $3.98

19.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 $13.96

$14.47 $14.47

-3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$9.11 $9.11

60.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$19.36 $19.36

-3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.48 $4.48

15.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.55 $1.55

27.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.08 $4.08

-3.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.53 $4.53

9.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.85 $3.85

-28.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$3.81 $3.81

-27.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.28 $2.28

-2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.01 $2.01

48.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.02 $14.02

$8.36 $8.36

67.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$14.84 $14.84

2.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.62 $1.62

59.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.55 $2.55

37.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.70 $2.70

-8.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.94 $2.94

13.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.50 $1.50

-4.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.32 $24.32

$17.79 $17.79

36.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.93 $0.93

35.48%

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

$35.0K $35.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

30.57%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.0K $26.0K

0.29%

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

$193 $193

$144 $144

34.10%

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

$68.3 $68.3

$53.2 $53.2

28.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 $61.3

$69.5 $69.5

-11.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 $54.1

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

$10.02 $10.02

178.64%

Cinema Ticket

$17.74 $17.74

$16.83 $16.83

5.41%

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

$1,652 $1,652

$1,223 $1,223

35.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$10.1K $10.1K

208.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.1 $66.1

$51.6 $51.6

28.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 $51.2

$35.18 $35.18

45.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$88.8 $88.8

12.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$135 $135

4.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,482 $1,482

13.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,717 $4,717

$2,283 $2,283

106.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,073 $2,073

34.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,866 $4,866

$4,152 $4,152

17.18%

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 19, 2026

Last update for Duluth, GA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5%

Duluth, GA

$1.5K 56.2% 11.6% $195

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3%

Duluth, GA

$396 15% 11.9% $54

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9%

Duluth, GA

$298 11.3% 13.4% $46

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3%

Duluth, GA

$266 10.1% 17.3% $56

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1%

Duluth, GA

$140 5.3% 13.4% $22

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$95 3%

Duluth, GA

$21 * 0.8% 77.7% $74

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9%

Duluth, GA

$34 * 1.3% 62.4% $56

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 17% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL versus $88.0 in Duluth, GA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $449 vs $396 – making Duluth, GA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Duluth, GA

🕒 Local time

00:07 12:07 AM

01:07 1:07 AM

1 h ahead of Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

86,265

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chicago, IL Duluth, GA 930 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Duluth, 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 Duluth, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,139 in Chicago, IL, $2,637 in Duluth, GA – roughly 19% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,708 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,955 in Duluth, GA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Chicago, IL and $88.0 in Duluth, GA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Duluth, GA, where all-in costs run around $2,637, than in Chicago, IL at $3,139. In Duluth, GA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,637 in Duluth, GA to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Duluth, GA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.